The Reynolds Pamphlet (song)

"The Reynolds Pamphlet" is the fourteenth song from Act 2 of the musical Hamilton, based on the life of Alexander Hamilton, which premiered on Broadway in 2015. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote both the music and lyrics to the song.

Synopsis

The cover of the document usually referred to as the Reynolds pamphlet

The song refers to a 95-page document written by Alexander Hamilton, former Secretary of the Treasury, to defend his name in the wake of a sex scandal.^[1] Hamilton does so to protect himself from a major political threat, as Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and Aaron Burr are made aware by Hamilton of his adulterous actions after they accused him of speculation and misappropriation of Treasury funds. He then publishes the document to the public, proving that he did not abuse his Cabinet position for financial gain, but had been instead victim of blackmail by James Reynolds for his one-year affair with Reynolds's wife Maria Reynolds. The document causes Angelica Schuyler to return from London to support her sister, Hamilton's wife Eliza. She then asks Hamilton angrily if he is satisfied, while Jefferson remarks on how he will never be President as his career has been sullied,^[2] which is a boon for the Democratic-Republican Party ("that's one less thing to worry about). The song concludes with all of the characters expressing sympathy for Hamilton's wife.

Historical differences

Although the musical Hamilton is based on true events, Miranda does use some dramatic license in retelling the story. In the case of the song “The Reynolds Pamphlet” the main differences are:

• Jefferson, Madison and Burr did not approach Hamilton about his affair, it was James Monroe, Frederick Muhlenberg and Abraham Venable in December 1792 when Hamilton was Treasury Secretary of the first Washington administration. They confronted him on the possible charge of speculation based on the accusations of both James and Maria Reynolds. Hamilton proved he was innocent of public wrongdoing by producing the letters by both Reynoldses proving his payments were related to blackmail over his one-year adulterous affair with Maria.^[3] Monroe was a close friend of Jefferson's and shared copies of the Reynoldses’ letters with him. Burr may have been aware of Hamilton’s affair with Maria Reynolds since he assisted her in divorcing from James in 1793 (when Maria's affair with Hamilton was already long ended) but never mentioned anything in this respect.^[4] In the early Summer of 1797, journalist James Callender broke the story of Hamilton's alleged speculation and infidelity. Hamilton blamed Monroe, and the altercation nearly ended in a duel. With nothing left to do, on August 25, 1797 Hamilton published the Reynolds pamphlet.^[5]
• Angelica’s return from London and the Reynolds Pamphlet are unrelated. Angelica and her husband John Barker Church had already returned to New York from their 12-years stay in Britain in May 1797,^[6] while the documents related to the scandal were first published by Callender in the early Summer of 1797 and the Reynolds Pamphlet was first announced by Hamilton by the end of July 1797 and finally published on August 25, 1797.

Analysis

The song refers to the pamphlet penned by Alexander Hamilton in July 1797 (whose original title was Observations on Certain Documents), and the beginning of the song consists of Hamilton's opponents quoting from the document. The song further stands out from many others in the musical courtesy of its use of auto-tune, leading critics to consider it the most modern song on the album.^[7]

It also incorporates musical cues that point towards earlier songs in the musical, including "Satisfied".

Critical reception

The Young Folks considered the song to be the 34th best in the musical,^[8] while a community post on Buzzfeed ranked the song 20th.^[9]

Huffington Post remarked that "the mash-up of previous tunes works well", and complemented the use of auto-tune.^[10]

In popular culture

During his monologue while hosting Saturday Night Live, Lin-Manuel Miranda referenced the song. He was midway through a hallway of previous SNL hosts when he encountered a photo of Donald Trump. Miranda, a supporter of Trump's opponent, interrupted his own rap before a presumed curse. He then quoted the song by saying "Never gonna be President now".^[11][12]

Miranda also discussed the song and the eponymous document on an episode of Drunk History.^[13]

References