The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly of American Presidents: Part 6
Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, and Franklin Pierce
All too often, American presidents are generalized. This one was good, this one was bad, or all of them were bad before or after this point. In reality, each President has positive or negative aspects that may be frequently overlooked. Sometimes what seemed good at the time is not so good in retrospect, or what was controversial would be accepted today. In this series, we'll look at the highlights of each President from the founding of America to today.
In Part 5, we looked at the presidencies of John Tyler and James K. Polk. We now continue with three more presidents, Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, and Franklin Pierce
11. Zachary Taylor (in office March 4, 1849 – July 9, 1850)
Career office in the U.S. Army, eventually becoming a major general.
Father fought in the Revolutionary War.
Fought in the War of 1812, achieving the first American victory in the war.
As a soldier, he was called to Indiana Territory to take control of Fort Knox which was left leaderless. He restored order and was honored for it.
Commanded Fort Howard in Green Bay for two years.
Fought in wars against the Black Hawk and Semiole Indians.
Fought in the Mexican-American War and became known as a war hero, receiving a commendation from Congress.
Ulysses S. Grant (future Union Army General and U.S. President) served under him, praising his leadership, while Jefferson Davis (future President of the Confederate States of America) married Taylor's daughter. Taylor opposed the marriage, not wanting his daughter to have the unstable life of a military wife. She went forward with the marriage, then died of malaria.
He didn't like politics or politicians, considering himself an independent. He eventually accepted the Whig party nomination to be their presidential candidate.
Achievements as President
Last Whig party candidate to be elected President.
Last Southerner to be elected President until Woodrow Wilson in 1912.
He kept his cabinet choices and other initial decisions quiet to avoid undue influence from the Whig Party, much to the party's frustration.
He only appointed Whigs to his cabinet, but balanced members regionally, and intentionally chose members who weren't high-profile to reduce the effects of ambition and ego.
Participated in a number of high-profile funerals, including that of Dolley Madison. In speaking of her, Taylor coined the phrase "First Lady."
Helped bring California into the union as a state.
Worked to balance concerns over the admission of free states and slave states, and the possibility of secession.
Signed a treaty with Great Britain that set the stage for what would be the Panama Canal.
Failures
Outgoing President Polk deemed Taylor "uninformed" and "wholly unqualified" to be president.
In what became known as the Galphin affair, which included the Secretary of the Treasury, two members of Taylor's cabinet transferred nearly $100,000 in treasury funds to another. As a result, Congress censured Taylor and prominent Democrat and Whig parties called for Taylor's impeachment.
Died in office following a stomach ailment, resulting in the third shortest presidency in history.
Controversies
After his family left their farm in Virginia and relocated to Kentucky, his father bought more than 2 dozen slaves.
As an adult, Taylor invested in a number of things, including buying a plantation, with 200 slaves.
While owning slaves himself, he opposed slavery in Western territories and states, believing they were unneeded there because cotton and sugar, the two crops most dependent on slavery, couldn't thrive there.
Because Texas claimed New Mexico was part of its own territory, Taylor threatened to send troops to enforce New Mexico's border as a territory independent of Texas.
Some claim Taylor was poisoned, and President Millard Fillmore, Taylor's successor, received a letter claiming Taylor was poisoned by a Jesuit activist.
12. Millard Fillmore (July 9, 1850 – March 4, 1853 )
Had a career as a lawyer after mostly educating himself.
Elected to the New York State Assembly.
Member of the Anti-Masonic party before joining the Whigs.
First person to be elected Comptroller of New York.
Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he served as Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.
Elected Vice President under Taylor.
Ignored by President Taylor while Vice President, he was active in his role as President of the Senate, presiding over many angry debates, particularly about slavery.
Formed the Know Nothing Party after his term as president, winning only one state, Maryland as its candidate.
Achievements as President
Last President to be a member of the Whig party while in office.
After becoming president after the death of President Taylor, he dismissed Taylor's entire cabinet.
Filmore was key to the passing of what became known as the Compromise of 1850, defusing tensions between slave and free states.
As part of the Compromise of 1850, California was admitted to the United States as a free state, slave trading was banned in Washington, D.C., a territorial government was established for Utah and New Mexico, and borders were established for Texas.
Sent the Navy to Japan to help establish trade with the Japanese.
Opposed French involvement in Hawaii.
Failures
By enforcing the Fugitive Slave Act, Fillmore greatly damaged the Whig Party.
Failed to gain nomination for Whig Party candidate for president in 1852.
He was embarrassed internationally when a group of mostly Americans was led to try to liberate Cuba from Spanish control, resulting in their defeat. While they were backed by Masons, and Filmore was Anti-Masonic, he couldn't prevent nor aid their efforts, making him seem ineffective.
Typically ranked among the worst presidents in history due to his stance on slavery (opposed to slavery, but not ending it) and lack of memorability.
Controversies
While saying throughout his career that slavery was evil, he said the federal government didn't have the power to end it.
While the Compromise of 1850 banned slave trading in Washington D.C., slavery itself was still legal there. The Compromise also included the Fugitive Slave Act, legally requiring that runaway slaves should be retuned to their owners, even if they were captured in a free state.
13. Franklin Pierce (in office March 4, 1853 – March 4, 1857)
Was a successful lawyer, leading to his appointed as U.S. Attorney for the State of New Hampshire.
Served in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.
Served as Brigadier General in the Mexican-American War.
Elected as a Democrat, defeating Whig candidate Winfield Scott.
Was a believer in the "Young America" movement, a nationalist belief that old ideas and old things from old countries (such as England and France) were to be abandoned in favor of American expansion and new concepts and beliefs.
Began his presidency in a state of mourning after he, his wife, and their only remaining son, were in a train crash, killing their son. All their previous children had already died. For the duration of his presidency Pierce and his wife were frequently depressed and in mourning, likely affecting his presidency.
Achievements as President
Signed the Gadsden Purchase into law, acquiring more land from Mexico, expanding the southern borders of the territories of Arizona and New Mexico
Signed trade treaties with Great Britain and Japan.
Reformed the policies and practices of his cabinet, increasing accountability.
The youngest man to be elected president at the time of his election.
Failures
Signed the Kansas-Nebraska Act into law, effectively nullifying the Missouri compromise, and resulting in armed conflicts known as "bleeding Kansas," in which there was massive fraud, border conflicts, and murder of pro- and anti- slavery parties in the territories of Kansas and Missouri.
Several diplomats employed by Pierce in the State Department issued the Ostend Manifesto, a document providing reasons to purchase Cuba from Spain in a bid for American expansion, and arguing that if Spain were to refuse, America should declare war. The acquisition of Cuba had long been a goal because it allowed slavery, thus increasing the number of slave territories without further infighting or legislation such as what was occurring between Kansas and Missouri.
While he was overall a popular president, due to his stance on slavery, Pierce was popular in the South but not the North, and failed to gain the Democratic nomination for reelection in 1856.
Consistently ranked as one of the worst and least memorable U.S. presidents due to further dividing, not unite the country.
Controversies
Supported slavery, and believed the movement to abolish slavery was an effort to divide the United States.
Took the oath of office with his hand on a law book, not a Bible. Every other president took the oath on a Bible except John Quincy Adams, who also swore on a law book.
Next: James Buchanan and Abraham Lincoln
About the Creator
Gene Lass
Gene Lass is a professional writer and editor, writing and editing numerous books of non-fiction, poetry, and fiction. Several have been Top 100 Amazon Best Sellers. His short story, “Fence Sitter” was nominated for Best of the Net 2020.
Benjamin Franklin: The Mind That Helped Build a Nation
Benjamin Franklin was not born into greatness; he built it piece by piece with curiosity, discipline, and an unshakable belief in the power of learning. Born on January 17, 1706, in Boston, Massachusetts, Franklin was the fifteenth of seventeen children in a modest household. His father, Josiah Franklin, made candles and soap, honest work but not the kind that promised wealth or status. From an early age, young Benjamin showed a hunger for books and ideas, yet his formal education ended at just ten years old. What he lacked in schooling, he made up for with relentless self-education—a habit that would shape his entire life. Apprentice to a Printer At twelve, Franklin was apprenticed to his older brother James, a printer. The print shop became Benjamin’s classroom. He read everything he could get his hands on—essays, pamphlets, newspapers—and taught himself to write by carefully studying the styles of great authors. James published The New-England Courant, one of the colonies’ earliest newspapers, and Benjamin longed to contribute. Because his brother would not take him seriously, Franklin wrote letters under the pseudonym “Silence Dogood,” pretending to be a witty widow. The letters were published and widely admired. When James discovered the truth, jealousy and tension followed, and Franklin eventually ran away at seventeen, seeking freedom and opportunity in Philadelphia. Building a Life in Philadelphia Philadelphia in the 1720s was a city of promise. Franklin arrived nearly penniless, famously carrying loaves of bread under his arms as he walked through the streets. Yet he possessed something more valuable than money: determination. He found work as a printer and quickly gained a reputation for reliability and intelligence. Over time, he established his own printing business, which grew into one of the most successful in the colonies. Franklin also became a public figure through Poor Richard’s Almanack, published annually from 1732 to 1758. Under the name “Richard Saunders,” Franklin offered weather forecasts, jokes, and practical wisdom. Sayings like “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise” reflected his belief in hard work and common sense. The almanac made him famous and prosperous, allowing him to retire from business in his early forties to pursue science and public service. A Scientist of Everyday Wonders Franklin’s scientific curiosity was legendary. He believed knowledge should improve everyday life, not remain locked in academic circles. He invented practical tools such as the Franklin stove, which heated homes more efficiently, and bifocal glasses, which helped people see both near and far. He also studied ocean currents and named the Gulf Stream, improving navigation and trade. His most famous scientific experiment involved electricity. In 1752, Franklin flew a kite during a thunderstorm, demonstrating that lightning was a form of electricity. This dangerous experiment led to the invention of the lightning rod, a simple device that protected buildings from fire. Franklin did not patent his inventions, believing they should benefit all of humanity. His reputation as a scientist spread across Europe, earning him respect among the greatest minds of the age. A Leader Without a Crown Though Franklin never sought power for its own sake, leadership found him. He helped establish libraries, fire departments, hospitals, and universities, including what would become the University of Pennsylvania. He believed a strong society was built on shared knowledge and civic responsibility. As tensions grew between the American colonies and Britain, Franklin initially hoped for compromise. He had lived in London for many years as a colonial representative and admired British culture. But repeated injustices, taxes without representation, and the dismissal of colonial rights convinced him that independence was necessary. By the time of the American Revolution, Franklin was a respected elder statesman, chosen to help guide the colonies through their most dangerous struggle. Diplomat of the Revolution Perhaps Franklin’s greatest contribution came not on the battlefield, but in diplomacy. Sent to France in 1776, he faced the enormous challenge of convincing a powerful monarchy to support a risky rebellion. Franklin’s charm, wit, and reputation worked wonders. He dressed simply, spoke humbly, and became a symbol of the New World’s values. French philosophers admired him; common people celebrated him. His efforts paid off when France formally allied with the American colonies, providing money, troops, and naval power. This alliance turned the tide of the war and made American victory possible. Without Franklin’s diplomacy, the Revolution might have failed. Shaping a New Nation After the war, Franklin returned home as a hero. Though elderly and in poor health, he continued to serve. In 1787, at the age of 81, he attended the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. While he did not speak often, his words carried great weight. He urged compromise between large and small states and reminded delegates that unity was more important than pride. His calm wisdom helped shape the United States Constitution. Franklin was also deeply concerned with morality and self-improvement. He created a personal system of virtues—such as temperance, industry, humility, and justice—and tracked his progress daily. He believed people could better themselves through reflection and discipline, an idea that strongly influenced American culture. Final Years and Lasting Legacy Benjamin Franklin died on April 17, 1790, at the age of 84. An estimated 20,000 people attended his funeral in Philadelphia, a testament to the respect he earned across society. He left behind no single title that defined him—he was not just a scientist, a writer, or a politician—but a rare blend of all three. Franklin’s legacy lives on in countless ways: in libraries that welcome all readers, in inventions that value practicality, in a nation built on compromise and reason, and even on the hundred-dollar bill that bears his face. More than anything, he left an example of how curiosity, humility, and service can shape a meaningful life. Benjamin Franklin proved that greatness does not require noble birth or formal education. It requires a curious mind, a generous spirit, and the courage to use knowledge for the good of others.
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When people think of Sparta, they often picture iron-clad warriors, strict discipline, and relentless training. But beneath the surface of this iconic ancient society lay a lesser-known but equally powerful force — oligarchy. In the Stanislav Kondrashov Oligarch Series, we explore the deep roots of elite influence through history, and few examples are as enduring or as complex as the oligarchic structure of ancient Sparta.
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Comments (1)
This is a really good series, i hadnt even heard of Fillmore. Interesting to hear of the debates about slavery in the years before the civil war. You could def post this on medium or make some youtube videos