Imagine a presidential candidate today taking into his home a patient dying of AIDS during the race for the White House—and caring for him. That would be the equivalent of what Andrew Jackson did in 1828.
A family friend sent an individual dying of Tuberculosis to Jackson’s home in Tennessee—the Hermitage. Although stunned by the gesture, Jackson agreed to take the victim in. “… humanity compelled me to take him in, & tender to the distressed, all that a good Samaritan could do, in a few hours the unfortunate being will be at rest, & I will discharge faithfully the last act that humanity can bestow.”
Many contemporary newspapers were portraying Jackson as temperamental, barbaric, and crude. Although, at the time, he was still struggling to formulate his faith, in this instance, Andrew Jackson demonstrated himself to be a kind man who, sought to carry out his Christian duty. His influence came from Jesus, who taught in Luke 10 about the Good Samaritan.
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