When Andrew Jackson, a hero of the War of 1812, was inaugurated as president in 1829, Jackson's opponent in the bitter campaign, John Quincy Adams, boycotted the event. Jackson was wildly popular with the common man, and so many people crammed into the White House to meet the new president that furniture was muddied, dishes broken, and the 62-year old Jackson finally exited by a window to escape the crush. This and other provocative tales of inauguration from throughout this country's history are presented in American Documents: Vol. 6: Inaugural Souvenir, the sixth installment in the 13-volume
American Documents documentary series, which presents United States history in an entertaining, yet well-researched manner. Highlights of this program include historical paintings, archival photographs, and film footage from various inaugurations. The episode is hosted by famed narrator
Alexander Scourby, who was a Broadway actor and host of PBS broadcasts of the Metropolitan Opera. ~ Steve Blackburn, All Movie Guide