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Imagine as June 8th, 1845, in Nashville, Tennessee. You hurry up the steps of a stately white mansion clutching your medical bag.

Rushing past the elegant columns framing the Miranda, you pound on the front door. The hermitage. Andrew Jackson's estate.

A moment later, Black woman opens the front door, Hannah, the head of Jackson's household, and a slave.

She recognizes you. You've been here many times before. She steps aside to let you in. How is he? It won't be long now, sir.

She leads you through the entry hall and into Jackson's bedroom on the first floor. As you enter the room, you spot the portrait of his deceased wife Rachel over the mantle.

Jackson is lying in bed, his eyes closed, his face ash in. You see it once that Hannah is right. After years of poor health, the hero of New Orleans is facing his final days.

You don't know it, but lead bullets lodged in Jackson's body have been slowly poisoning him for decades. The legacy of two duels fought long ago. At long last, his rivals will have their revenge.

You set to work administering pain medication. After a few minutes, you head back to the hallway where Jackson's adopted children have gathered. They've all grown into strong and prosperous people, but their apprehension today is palpable.

You approach Andrew Jackson Jr. He doesn't have much time left. You should go in now. Thank you, doctor. You follow Hannah back to the entryway. Would you like a cup of tea? No, thank you. She leaves you and heads back to the bedroom.

You stand by the window, looking out at the yard and Rachel's tomb at the edge of the garden. Its greek columns rise gracefully above the gentle arching willow and hickory trees Jackson planted on either side. He once told you he chose that spot because it was her favorite. That was almost 20 years ago now. He'll join her out there soon.

Dr. Dr. Come Quick. The children are standing over the bed. Their father's face is like a carved mask. You've seen that look countless times before. You know what it means. As you kneel closer, Jackson's long shudder with one more breath is last. You place your fingers to Jackson's wrist. There is no pulse. He has passed. And with that, Andrew Jackson, old hickory, king andrew the first sharp knife and seventh press

of the United States is dead. He leaves his country very different from where it was during the Battle of New Orleans in 1815. It is larger, it is stronger, it is forging ahead and expanding ever westward. It's also about to be torn apart.

Well done. You've sorted through the embarrassment of riches that is the modern podcast landscape and found me Rob Briden on my podcast. In this series of Briden and I talk to among others, Harry Hill, Ben Elton, Charlotte Church, Steve Cougan and Dame Harriet Walter.

And that's just a few. We tend to chat for about 45 minutes to an hour, never longer. It's terrific conversation, reminiscent, sweat appropriate and exchange of anecdotes.

So do join me Rob Briden, wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes of Briden and are available early and ad free on Amazon Music or by subscribing to Wondery Plus in Apple Podcasts or the Wondery app.

I love my kid, but is a new comedy parenting podcast from Wondery that shares a refreshingly honest and insightful take on parenting each week. The host will share a parenting story that'll have you laughing and thinking, yes, I have absolutely been there.

Listen to I love my kid, but on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts.

From Wondery, this is American History Tellers, our history, your story. I'm Lindsay Graham.

This is the sixth episode in our series on the Age of Jackson, Manifest Destiny. We ended the last episode with the election of James Polk who visited Jackson at the hermitage on his way to his inauguration.

The two men had much in common. Polk and Jackson both believed that the United States should continue to grow in territory. Polk even suggested that expansion was inevitable.

President Polk took office March 4th, 1845 under a dreary reign. When he stood to deliver his inaugural address, he looked out on a sea of umbrellas, but the new president's outlook was sunny. The United States had just annexed Texas and the young country was flexing its territorial muscles.

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