Among the nicknames most famously ascribed to Martin Van Buren was the “Great Magician,” which later became the “Little Magician” due to his diminutive stature. The moniker was not meant as praise. It was an epithet offered by political rivals for Van Buren’s behind-the-scenes machinations that somehow managed to magically achieve the politically impossible. This was, in many ways, the life mission of Martin Van Buren, such that he would undoubtedly have taken the phrase as a compliment. … Looking at the results, the magic clearly wore off for the “Little Magician.” His administration oversaw a troubled time, full of economic and political strife, and the electorate failed to return him to the White House. … Those who value reaching the top of the mountain as the primary goal will see in Van Buren the kind of strategic organization and discipline that can enable such a successful rise, leveraging relationships, patronage, and even the occasional intrigue to pave the road to the attainment and maintenance of power. On the other hand, there’s the latter stage of Van Buren’s career where he relied more on strong stands in the personal and ideological pursuit of heartfelt causes. In a number of these instances, popular support eluded him leading him to a series of political defeats. These characteristics spanning the entirety of Martin Van Buren’s lengthy political career leave one wondering: Which of these political approaches is the more righteous to be championed by posterity?