Franklin Pierce
By: Michael F. Holt
Edition: 1st ed.
Series: The American presidents series -- 14
Publisher: Times Books/Henry Holt and Co.
Published: 2010
Place of publication: New York
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 154
ISBN-13: 9780805087192
Description: Creates a solid portrait of both man and President. Pierce, a New Englander known for his charm and good looks, traditionally ranks as one of our nation's worst leaders. Holt does not dispel or challenge any previous assessments but rather tries to explain the pre-Civil War President's actions. Holt's thesis is that Pierce's obsession with the Democratic Party and priority of party over country in the tumultuous 1850s in fact damaged his party and pushed the country more quickly toward war.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [141]-144) and index.
Table of contents: title: A precocious start; title: War, sectional crisis, and election; title: No "timid forebodings of evil from expansion"; title: Patronage, policy, and political realignment; title: Defeat; title: Retirement; title: Milestones; title: Selected bibliography