The 1998 FFSA Independent Guide to the Vanguard Funds

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Current recommendations and analysis, with complete historical data, for all of Vanguard's mutual funds

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"Talleyrand, who was acquainted with all of the statesmen of Europe, once remarked that he had never encountered anyone 'equal to Alexander Hamilton.' Hamilton may, in fact, have been the greatest of the American Founding Fathers. He was certainly one of the most important. Despite this, he has rarely been given his due. This superb collection of essays goes a considerable distance towards redressing the balance and towards restoring an American statesman to the central place that he occupied in his own time." -Paul A. Rahe, author of Republics Ancient and Modern: Classical Republicanism and the American Revolution "Here are many fresh thoughts by many of the most innovative scholars at work on Alexander Hamilton today. Every student of the new republic and many general readers who are captivated by the subject will want to read this volume." -Lance Banning, author of Conceived in Liberty: The Struggle to Define the New Republic, 1789-1793 "This supberb collection of essays goes a considerable distance towards redressing the balance and towards restoring an American statesman to the central place that he occupied in his own time." -Paul A. Rahe, author of Republics Ancient and Modern: Classical Republicanism and the American Revolution Revolutionary War officer, co-author of the Federalist Papers, our first Treasury Secretary, Thomas Jefferson's nemesis, and victim of a fatal duel with Aaron Burr: Alexander Hamilton has been the focus of debate from his day to ours. On the one hand, Hamilton was the quintessential Founding Father, playing a central role in every key debate and event in the Revolutionary and Early Republic eras. On the other hand, he has received far less popular and scholarly attention than his brethren. Who was he really and what is his legacy? Scholars have long disagreed. Was Hamilton a closet monarchist or a sincere republican? A victim of partisan politics or one of its most active promoters? A lackey for British interests or a foreign policy mastermind? The Many Faces of Alexander Hamilton addresses these and other perennial questions. Leading Hamilton scholars, both historians and political scientists alike, present fresh evidence and new, sometimes competing, interpretations of the man, his thought, and the legacy he has had on America and the world. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Douglas Ambrose is Sidney Wertimer, Jr. associate professor of history at Hamilton College, in Clinton, New York. He is the author of Henry Hughes and Proslavery Thought in the Old South. Robert W. T. Martin is associate professor of government at Hamilton College and author of The Free and Open Press (NYU Press, 2001).

Customer Reviews:

A Must Read For Those Interested in The Founding Fathers.......2006-05-03

This crisply written volume of eleven essays by leading Alexander Hamilton scholars provides an excellent reading experience for any person interested in the founding years of the United States. The essays are well documented and present new scholarship and a clearer understanding about the centrality of Hamilton throughout the founding period of the U.S. The beauty of the book comes from the clarity of writing and information conveyed, while not glossing over the debates still surrounding Hamilton and his many legacies.

Little Aleck;: A life of Alexander H. Stephens, the fighting vice-president of the confederacy,

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Little Aleck;: A life of Alexander H. Stephens, the fighting vice-president of the confederacy,
Eudora Ramsay Richardson
Manufacturer: Grosset & Dunlap
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B00085951C

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the first modern american?
just okay
Not complete, but entertaining
Randall on Hamilton
Simply another Genius in the Revolution

Alexander Hamilton: A Life
Willard Sterne Randall
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Historical | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Political | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Presidents & Heads of State | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0060954663
Release Date: 2003-12-23

Book Description

From his less than auspicious start in 1755 on the Caribbean island of Nevis to his untimely death in a duel with his old enemy Aaron Burr in 1804, Alexander Hamilton, despite his short life, left a huge legacy.

Orphaned at thirteen and apprenticed in a counting house, the precocious Hamilton learned principles of business that helped him create the American financial system and invent the modern corporation. But first the staunch, intrepid Hamilton served in the American Revolution, acting as General Washington's spymaster. Forging a successful legal career, Hamilton coauthored the Federalist Papers and plunged into politics. Irresistibly attractive to women, he was a man of many gifts, but he could be arrogant and was, at times, a poor judge of character.

In this meticulously researched, illuminating, and lively account, Willard Sterne Randall mines the latest scholarship to provide a new perspective on Alexander Hamilton, his illegitimate birth, little-known military activities, political and diplomatic intrigues, and sometimes scandalous private life.

Customer Reviews:

the first modern american?.......2005-08-17

Randall does an excellent job of telling Hamilton's story as well as describing his significane to the development of the new nation. As I read the book I was struck by how "modern" Hamilton was. His emphasis in centralized structures, efficient government and the significant role economics played in his political understanding. I was struck how Hamilton was more pragmatic than many of his contemporaries.

Recommend this to anyone wanting to flesh out their understanding of the Revolutionary period.

just okay.......2005-06-08

I read Randall's Jefferson biography and was unimpressed. However, I thought I would give Randall another chance with his Hamilton biography. I thought it was slightly better than the Jefferson bio.

Then I read Chernow's Hamilton biography, which leaves Randall's in the dust. The main problem with Randall is that he is a professor and, as convential wisdom goes, professors write to pad their vita and for other professors, with little concern for the reader and more concern for quantity than quality. (In fact, with few exceptions [like J. Ellis], you should always skip a history book when the dust jacket announces the author is a professor).

This book is an adequate overview of Hamilton, but why read it when an exceptionally better book exists? For completists and Hamilton enthusiasts only.

Not complete, but entertaining.......2005-03-30

Excellent biography of one of the lesser known founding fathers. Includes his birth in St Croix with ancestral background and proceeds to his death at the hands of Aaron Burr during their duel. Randall refrains from making Hamilton superhuman or flawless, but does center his piece on his contributions to America before, during and after the Revolutionary War. A treat for any Hamilton fan or those looking to become familiar with him.

Randall on Hamilton.......2004-11-30

Randall's book is exhaustive in its coverage of Hamilton's life, development and texture. But the result is skimpy coverage of his greatest contributions. Hamilton's finger prints are all over American political economy.
Fascinating glimces into St Croix childhood and developing anthipathy for slavery. Women's rights, too. Interesting but exhausting detal about the Revolution: walked the reader through each season from 1776 to 1781. Likely duplicating work Randall did for his Washington biography. Cop out. Hamilton was also first secretary of the Navy; a tidbit but no meat.

Simply another Genius in the Revolution.......2004-11-28

If one studies American history, particularly the years leading to the Revolution, one is struck at the concentration of genius at a single point in time. The American Revolution was totally unique in that it was guided by ideas and ideals. There were no hated Jews or bourgeois or Hutus or "infidels". It was an event inspired by unique individuals, one of whom this book is about.

I agree with other reviewers that the last few years are rushed. (Perhaps a two-volume series would have been preferable.) But, if this is supposed to be about the man, his origins, his ideas and his actions - it succeeds brilliantly.

ALexander Hamilton, the self-made man of illigetimate origins, made so many monumental contributions that simply stating them is breathtaking. He was a brave fighter, he created the current financial system of debt, credit, sound money and banking, he was an abolitionist who fought slavery his entire life, his moderate views on treatment of prisoners was advanced. His legal writings were mandatory reading for New York law students; His authorship of the Federalist Papers secured his place in history as did his organization of the finances of the country.

He practically instituted the idea of judicial review, his memo to Washington on the decorum of the Presidency remains relevant today. The book is detailed (vast research) with quotes from letters of the times. Hamilton excelled at both theoretical and practical subject. He was a master of organization, a speaker so powerful that opponents prevented him from presentin in person his plans for handling debt and organizing Treasury.

His marriage proved unhappy and he had affairs, yet his wife remained loyal for 50 years after his death. A great read, the only drawback being the abbreviated later years.

Hamilton's Blessing: The Extraordinary Life and Times of Our National Debt

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Fantastic, brief history of a nation's national debt
acceptable... but not unique
An insightful look into the making of the national debt
Intersting Little Book on US Fiscal History
A Good Primer on the History of U.S. Fiscal Policy

Hamilton's Blessing: The Extraordinary Life and Times of Our National Debt
John Steele Gordon
Manufacturer: Walker & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Public Finance | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Debt & Deficits | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0802713238

Amazon.com

Over the past couple of decades, our national debt has become a favorite political football for Democrats and Republicans alike. Yet few Americans seem aware that the debt has a long and (mostly) honorable history. Alexander Hamilton considered it a kind of political Krazy Glue, which would also spur American industry by keeping taxes high. This borrowing power enabled the North to win the Civil War without wrecking its economy and rescued us from the Great Depression. John Steele Gordon doesn't deny the dangers of an entire nation living on credit; indeed, he believes that our fiscal affairs are a mess. But he puts this mess in fascinating perspective. And he's quick to see the human side of economic behavior: "One problem," he writes, "is that human nature predisposes us to recognize depression easily and quickly, but prosperity, like happiness, is most easily seen in retrospect." Bull's-eye!

Book Description

Measured at the staggering amount of $5.1 trillion (and growing every day) the national debt is unfathomable to most Americans. What we may not realize is that the United States was born out of debt. After the Revolution, the brilliant Alexander Hamilton was less interested in paying down the Revolutionary war debt than in using it to create a vibrant national economy. "If it is not excessive," he declared, "a national debt will be to us a national blessing." In a fascinating narrative brimming with colorful characters, historical accidents, and American ingenuity, business historian John Steele Gordon leads us on a tour of an American institution whose largely unknown story has been integrally entwined with our country's destiny. At key points in U.S. history, Gordon shows how the national debt has been a potent instrument of fiscal policy in keeping the world safe for democracy. But how much debt is too much? At a time when we despair of balancing even a single year's budget, Hamilton's Blessing provides much needed perspective - and hope. * Author writes the "Business of America" column in American Heritage magazine and is heard often on public radio's "Marketplace."

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic, brief history of a nation's national debt.......2006-04-27

John Steele Gordon has taken what could be an amazingly dull topic, limited in appeal, and translated it into a spectacular read for anyone with at least a basic education. This great little book is a welcome addition for folks interested in finance, the U.S. economy, and the national deficit. Nonetheless, despite its breezy style and short length (traits typically necessary for widespread appeal), I don't expect it will reach a wide audience. Consider yourself lucky that you've discovered this plain-language, excellent primer on how our national debt came to be!

The author's premise, like that of Alexander Hamilton, is that a national debt can be used constructively to monetize an economy. Both men were quite correct, and the debt served its purpose beautifully in supporting the fledging United States of America. It's subsequently been bastardized by numerous administrations, as a means of funding open-ended congressional and executive expenditures of middling value. Throughout the narrative of changes in the U.S. debt, the author details the creation and destruction of the National Bank of the United States. This institution flourished under Federalist rule, and languished or disappeared entirely when populist presidents (Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson) sat in office.

Overall, a remarkable book that will be discovered by too few, and certainly treasured by those lucky enough to discover it.

acceptable... but not unique.......2005-02-20

The book is okay ... but in general the book attempts to have the reader buy into Hamilton and his develpment of the National Debt as a good thing in todays economic system.

It was set up originally to help our economy expand and to be used in a way such that in difficult times money would be borrowed so that in prosperous times it could be paid back. Although it is a factual account of a major portion of our Nations'Economic history it fails to take into account one thing in its summary, the Human Equation.

All things work great on paper but in this instance this is not the case. The current system, seeing that it has no intent of ever paying back the current debt, now has adopted the belief that as long as the debt to GNP ratio stays within + or - 5%, everything will be OK. This is where the book falls short, it doesn't analyse Hamiltons' theories as they apply today, accounting for Human Intervention. It instead tries to explain away our current economic problems as part of economic evolution. Not the case. Socialism works great on paper but fails in real life. Why.... Humanity. Simply put, if you borrow more than you could ever make or pay back, sooner or later you reach a point of critical mass (or you just keep printing more money, hence inflation).

None the less, if some basic, simplistic history is what you want want, here it is.

An insightful look into the making of the national debt.......2004-04-15

I tip my hat to Mr. Gordon for providing a compelling short history of national debt, and how it has been shaped by tariffs, taxation and ever-increasing spending that has run amok in recent decades. It is a fascinating study into the competing visions of fiscal responsibility, notably the balanced budget extolled by Jeffersonians, which has actually been achieved on numerous occasions, versus deficit spending espoused by Hamiltonians, and of which John Maynard Keynes became the leading exponent in the inter-wars years between WWI and WWII.

While debts traditionally run high during wars, Gordon notes that since WWII, the yearly budget has rarely been balanced. It is during this time that Keynesian theory took hold and in Gordon's view led to a budget deficit that quickly spun out of control as entitlement programs took up fully three-quarters of the yearly budget. These programs have been virtually untouchable, but in 1995 (the point to which Gordon takes his history) a new reckoning emerged with the Republican landslide in Congress. Bill Clinton duly responded by proposing a balanced budget.

Gordon is a fiscal conservative, but recognizes the need to run in the red during hard economic times. He notes that this was Hoover's mistake at the onset of the Great Depression, as he continued to push for a balanced budget despite warnings that it would make the recession worse. However, the federal deficit, which has mushroomed to over $5 trillion, threatens to bankrupt many of the entitlement programs including social security.

Intersting Little Book on US Fiscal History.......2003-07-25

John Steele Gordon is an excellent writer, one whom I have enjoyed very much in the pages of American Heritage and who wrote a nifty history of Wall Street called "The Great Game."

This book, "Hamilton's Blessing: The Extraordinary Life and Times of Our National Debt" is a good, if brief, overview of the fiscal history of the American government. It is somewhat misnamed, since the National Debt serves as a background and tie in to each period of fiscal history studied.

The author does a superb job of explaining Alexander Hamilton's establishment of our financial, banking, debt and money system. Here is a woefully under appreciated founder explained succinctly and whose brilliance and indispensability are brought forth by Gordon.

Descriptions of attitudes towards and major changes in financial policy and tools follow. Gordon covers the major aspects: the struggle over the Second National Bank, Jackson's paying off the debt (the only time the US Gov't has been debt free), Lincoln and Chase's tax, greenback and bond finance of the Civil War, the long fight to establish the income tax, the fight over high marginal rates and an efficient system of taxation, and the change in view in the last century from one that deficits and debt were something to be controlled to our current sorry state of view whereby no one worries about much about deficits anymore.

Debt, when properly used, has allowed us to primarily wage wars. It was retired in times of peace. We face an interesting time now, when debt as a percentage of GDP is much higher than it has been in most peacetimes. This raises the question that if we have to fight a truly massive and long war in the future, will we have the capacity to borrow what we need (based on historic statistics, it is a question well worth pondering).

Gordon finishes the book with a polemic against the political culture that has lost its way in terms of providing an efficient and fair and economically sound system of taxation and the willingness to moderate the nation's debt.

This is a good and interesting book. Anyone looking for a succinct telling of the development of our government's fiscal structure will appreciate this gem.

A Good Primer on the History of U.S. Fiscal Policy.......2002-06-24

Just two years ago, John Steele Gordon's book on the history of the U.S. federal debt would have seemed dated, even though it was published in 1997. After more than twenty consecutive years of operating in the red, the U.S. federal government had not only erased its annual deficits and began paying down the debt, but surpluses were projected over the next ten years.

This is no longer the case. A tax cut, the war on terrorism, and a slowdown in the economy have combined to push the U.S. government's outlays above its revenues. They have also made this book -- "Hamilton's Blessing" -- relevant again.

Gordon's book is two things: 1) a basic history describing the twists and turns of U.S. fiscal policy over the last two hundred-plus years and 2) a political tract condemning the latest turn U.S. fiscal policy has taken since the Great Society.

By combining the two, Gordon seeks to show that the most recent practice of U.S. fiscal policy -- that of habitually running deficits in peacetime -- is not only unprecedented in U.S. history, but also, more importantly, unsupported by any sound theory of economics.

"Hamilton's Blessing" is well-written and interesting. The book is only slightly marred by a lack of detail in some areas. How exactly does a large public debt hurt your average citizen and by how much? We never find out.

Gordon also should have kept his own political bent out of the book. Among other things, he spends three pages in a less than 200-page book detailing Jack Kemp's personal and political history, including his football career. All very interesting, but not really relevant to the history of the U.S. debt.

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Alexander Hamilton : Selections Representing His Life His Thought, and He Style (The American Herigage Series)

Manufacturer: The Liberal Arts Press Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000CD9P74

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Alexander Hamilton's Economic Plan: Solving Problems in America's New Economy (Life in the New American Nation)
Ryan P. Randolph
Manufacturer: Rosen Publishing Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Economic Conditions | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Economic Conditions | International | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0823940330

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Alexander Hamilton: Selections representing his life, his thought, and his style (The American heritage series)
Alexander Hamilton
Manufacturer: The Liberal Arts Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0006D86KC

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Alexander Hamilton: Young Statesman (Young Patriots series)
Helen Boyd Higgins , and Cathy Morrison
Manufacturer: Patria Press, Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

United States | Biographies | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Colonial | Fiction | United States | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1882859626

Book Description

The adult accomplishments of this Founding Father, architect of the Constitution and first Secretary of the Treasury are legendary, and in this latest offering, children meet the young "Alec" growing up in the Caribbean as he dreams of visiting the land called America. Accompanied by his parrot, Hurry-Up, and his companion, Poleon, Alec's tranquil days are filled with the books he loves and visits to the waterfront to greet the large ships arriving from Europe—until his uncle insists that Alec fit riding lessons into his schedule. Children will identify with Alec's struggle to overcome his fear of horses and cheer at his courage as he narrowly escapes a violent hurricane while on horseback, all while keeping his eye on the prize—school in America. Featured sections and fun facts explain what happened next and when Alexander Hamilton lived, providing young readers with a snapshot of the leader's entire life.

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The Boys' Life of Alexander Hamilton
Helen Nicolay
Manufacturer: The Century Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000O2OCB2

A collection of the facts and documents relative to the death of Major-General Alexander Hamilton: With comments, together with the various orations, sermons, ... or written on his life and character

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A collection of the facts and documents relative to the death of Major-General Alexander Hamilton: With comments, together with the various orations, sermons, ... or written on his life and character
William Coleman
Manufacturer: Houghton, Mifflin and Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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Tim Graham Delivers a Gem!

Jubilee A Celebration of 50 Years of the Reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Manufacturer: Cassell & Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000BMS0UE

Customer Reviews:

Tim Graham Delivers a Gem!.......2007-07-05

Tim Graham's book is an extraordinary look back through the Queen's reign. The momentous culmination of Her Majesty's fifty-year reign in 2002 begins in the 1970s, when Graham began photographing the Queen and her family. Graham's photography provides a window to many intimate glances, joyous expressions, and even the occasional comical face made by the Queen. Graham shows the warmth and depth behind one of the most iconic women of our time, as well as a "behind the scenes" look at the action during state occasions and even at the racetrack. Whether the Queen is at a State Banquet or out with her dogs at Balmoral, you will find yourself in complete admiration of Elizabeth, and Tim Graham, throughout.

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THE QUEEN 50 YEARS - CELEBRATION
R. ALLISON
Manufacturer: GRAFTON
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000SI91RM

Average customer rating:

Includes plenty of biographical and political details

The Queen: 50 Years - A Celebration
Ronald Allison
Manufacturer: HarperCollins UK
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

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Book Description

The years since Queen Elizabeth II came to the throne in 1952 have been well chronicled, coinciding as they do with the second half of the 20th century. Throughout these years, as statesmen and politicians have come and gone, the Queen has remained a constant figure of stability and reassurance. Taking her reign year by year, The Queen records how Elizabeth has so brilliantly managed to combine the roles of wife, mother, and grandmother with those of Head of State and Head of the Commonwealth. Her growing family, the Royal tours, the changing world around her are all superbly recorded here in words and photographs. Ronald Allison was the BBC’s Court Correspondent when, in 1973, he became Press Secretary to Her Majesty the Queen. He remained at Buckingham Palace until 1978, and he has since broadcast and written regularly on the monarchy and the royal family.

Customer Reviews:

Includes plenty of biographical and political details.......2002-06-03

Fans of the British monarchy will relish The Queen, a survey of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, which takes her reign year by year and includes plenty of biographical and political details and insights. Packed with black and white and color photos throughout, this coverage of British history which should not be missed.

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The Queen: 50 Years-A Celebration
Ronald Allison
Manufacturer: Harpercollins Pub Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O8QK2U

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