Tommy Wohlwender
Clinton the Flip-Flopper
The election of 1812 was special in that it challenged a war time President for the first time. The United States’ perceived slow start in the war made this election relatively close. The incumbent, James Madison, declared war with England for a multitude of reasons, but the reason closest to the American hearts was the English treatment of American sailors on the high seas. The challenger, Dewitt Clinton, represented the Federalists who were generally against the war with England.
This attack add has three major points. The first is that Clinton’s political success was only a result from being associated with his uncle, George Clinton, who was close to Washington during the revolution, became the first Governor of New York, and served as Vice President for two Presidents. The second naturally follows the first in that it gives evidence to support this claim. Dewitt Clinton was considered a flip-flopper because he held different opinions of the war and major issues such as the National Bank. Clinton would simply change his opinion based on who he was talking to. This is both a critique because it shows he did not have a solid platform when running for President, but also is evidence to support that his only success came from his family name, not his political beliefs. The third point is an attack on the party that he represented. The Federalist Party was against the war of 1812 because it threatened to stymie the New England merchant economy, one of the biggest areas that supported the Federalists. Similarly, the Federalists held a natural inclination towards England and believed that American aggression should be targeted towards the French. This “dovish” behavior was seen as unpatriotic to many Americans during the time and evident in the election of the war hawk congress.
The first part of this video is used to set up the critique that Dewitt Clinton was only successful because of his uncle. The first quote reads: “Mr. Clinton, I apprehend derives more popularity from his name than his deeds.” In this quote, ‘name’ and ‘deeds’ were purposefully italicized to emphasize that there was no substance in the former and his political career was the result of the later. Another thing that this quote hints at is by using the word ‘popularity,’ the viewer gets a sense that there is no substance in the person but rather that the public relied upon a reputation. In fact, the video from last year critiqued Clinton by saying he was “unknown the people.” The only thing that the people knew was his last name-which gained a reputation from his uncle.
The second quote this video presents is: “I very much suspect he never would have been offered to the American people as president, if his friends had not endeavored to cover him with the mantle of his revered uncle.” This quote again is tying his success to his uncle’s popularity. The quote is purposefully scrolled from the bottom of the screen towards the top to represent Dewitt Clinton’s political rise starting from the groundwork laid by his uncle. It was also set to scroll because all the other quotes presented in the video were underlined with dark red boxes and this broke up the monotony of having all the quotes presented in a singular fashion. The picture in the background also serves this purpose, but it also ties into what the scrolling text represents as well. The picture is of Dewitt Clinton’s uncle’s grave. Thus, the text is on top of the grave just as Clinton’s career was built from George Clinton’s virtuous public service. It is also worthy to note that the music picks up when the reader gets to the word uncle, further signifying the importance of Clinton’s uncle and downplaying his actual role.
After the role of Clinton’s uncle is established, the video then transitions into the “flip-flopper” portion and proves the first critique because it shows how it would be impossible for Clinton to have succeeded if he did not have such a successful uncle. The next three quotes all attack Clinton for not having a solid platform. The first quote is: “On the most important question where were Mr. Clinton’s energy and decision?” This quote emphasizes the fact that Clinton did not have a clear platform because it questions the transparency of his actual beliefs. Also, it uses the term ‘energy’ because Clinton’s supporters claimed that he was an energetic politician who was very charismatic. The second quote uses the energetic praise to sarcastically show that Mr. Clinton was indecisive in regards to the National Bank. The quote reads: “it remains doubtful to this day, whether the energetic Mr. Clinton was in favor of that dangerous mammoth bank, or against it.” The word ‘energetic’ is purposefully italicized to show that Clinton was not energetic like his supporters claimed but rather indecisive and dull because he never set a positive stance on big issues. The pun on the energetic theme was also highlighted in the last class’s video when it flashed a quote about Clinton never partaking in alcoholic beverages and instead the voter should toast to Madison, someone who was actually energetic because he knew how to drink.
The next slide is an image used to break up the last two quotes with the third quote. If all three quotes were presented in sequence the viewer could possibly get bored and reluctant to read. The picture is of the national bank and is pertinent to the last quote because voters could not discern if Clinton was for the bank or against it. The bank represented a fundamental split between the Federalists and anti-federalists so not choosing a clear side meant that Clinton did not hold strong views. The next slide is another quote regarding flip-flopping. This time, it revolves around the central issue of the day: the War of 1812. The quote says: “I cannot, even at this late day, tell whether Mr. Clinton is for peace or for prosecuting the war with vigor.” During his campaign, Clinton would feverishly oppose the war in New England and praise it in the South. He purposefully tried to turn voters from Madison’s base- the South Midwest war hawks- away from Madison by supporting the war when he visited those areas. Again, when a major issue is presented to Clinton he finds a way to take both sides.
The next part of the attack add is geared towards criticizing the Federalist party for being unpatriotically against a war that the United States was fighting in. The Barbary pirates and England had been imprisoning American sailors on the high seas for many years. England would constantly disregard American neutrality in the Napoleonic War by boarding her ships, imprisoning her sailors, and at times, even firing upon American vessels. To people like Jefferson and Madison this represented a huge insult to American pride. By being against the war, the Federalists were seen as week and not wanting to defend America’s honor. The next image is a depiction of an American vessel being destroyed by Barbary pirates. There are many cannonball holes in the American ship’s rigging as well as black smoke rising from her deck. There is one large American ship being attacked by many smaller Barbary Coast ships. This could represent that American honor was being challenged by a smaller and less important country. The smaller country was winning however because America was fighting with its hands tied behind its back- the Federalists were reluctant to enter War. The music also turns more ominous to signify the American defeat.
The next quote reads: “Mr. Clinton knows, that at present we cannot compel G. Britain to give up her maritime pretensions but if we have war!” This quote is directly related to the previous image because it shows how the United States is at a current disadvantage because it has not been set at a war time posture. Secondly, it is advocating for war because of Great Britain’s acts to American sailors. This was the biggest issue to Americans of that day. The next slide shows American ships being fired upon by English ships. The English ships are both larger and more numerous and they are depicted in an attacking formation in pursuit of the American ships who have every sail outstretched in order to run away. From how the wind is filling the sails of the American ship in the front and by the waves depicted as flowing towards the viewer, it is evident that the English ships engaged the American ships with a distinct weather-gauge advantage meaning they control the engagement and are prying on the American ships in pristine pursuit conditions. This shows how the English deliberately sought to wreak havoc on helpless American Ships. This picture would be analogous to a depiction of soldiers armed with automatic weapons riding in a motorized vehicle firing on a crowd of farmers fleeing on foot with pitchforks in their hands.
The next slide captures the sentiment of the previous disturbing image by advocating clearly for war. The music intensifies while the quote “But if we have war!” is zoomed in on. Clearly, America needs to do something to protect its helpless citizens, being endlessly targeted by English ships. This feeling also goes against the major support of the anti-war movement. For example, the anti-war movement gained support because they said that America was never attacked so this war must be unjust. The previous picture shows England attacking a helpless American ship which justly calls for war- something the Federalists appose. Since the Federalists oppose this just war, the party and its Presidential candidate, Dewitt Clinton, are unpatriotic.
The ending slide is a dramatic analogy between Clinton and the devil. It reads: “should De Witt Clinton succeed the devil will be promoted.” The music becomes more ominous and allowed to play after the quote disappears in order to both promote the association of a negative feeling towards Clinton and to add to the dramatic effect that highlighting the word ‘ devil’ with red creates. The music was nicely used in this add because it was at times ominous, and at other times cheerful- representing both sides of the spectrum just as Clinton had done while he was flip-flopping.