Was andrew jackson a great president? opinions are mixed. what is yours? consider thewords that jackson biographer james parton wrote in 1859: ""andrew jackson, i am given to understand, was a patriot and a traitor. he was one of the greatest of generals, and wholly ignorant of the art of he was the most candid of men, and was capable of the profoundest a democratic autocrat [dictator]. an urbane [sophisticated] savage. an atrocious [awful] saint."now write a well-constructed essay of your own about the quality of the jackson presidency. be sure to start with a clear thesis statement and then give specific examples of events and issues to support your position.