He wrote a pamphlet titled A Candid View of the Presidential Election supporting Jackson and is credited with writing many of his statements as President on national policy.

[1] Jackson nominated Kane as one of the three United States Commissioners to settle claims with France from 1832 to 1836.

Kane's son, Thomas, resigned his position as clerk of the court in protest of the ruling and was also charged with contempt.

[5] Kane was descended from John O'Kane, a Latin scholar who emigrated from Ireland to America in 1750.

[7] When his mother Alida died in 1799, Elisha married Elizabeth Kintzing, and it was she who raised John and his siblings.