William Henry Harrison served as president for one month before dying of pneumonia on April 4, 1841. There were indications that he might have become a more independent president than expected. However, his inaugural address (his first speech at the formal ceremony installing him as president) suggested that he would allow Congress to lead the nation forward, a scenario (a view of possible future events) for which members of his Whig Party had planned. The Whig Party was a political party made up of different groups within the former Democratic-Republican Party.

Harrison is associated with a presidential campaign that reflects a more manipulative side of politics. In this kind of shrewdly managed political campaign, appearance counts for more than reality, songs and slogans overwhelm discussion on issues, and powerful figures behind the scenes hold the real power. Harrison was the Tippecanoe half of the famous political...