Remembering Handsome Frank
On October 8, 1869 (142 years ago today) Franklin Pierce, the 14th President of the United States, died at his home in Concord, New Hampshire of cirrhosis of the liver. He was 64 years of age and it's likely that he drank himself to death.
Pierce had come into office as a popular and likeable northerner who was acceptable to southerners and who everyone thought would keep the fragile union together. It's likely that Pierce's interest in the job was severely affected when, on the train ride to his inauguration, the train derailed and rolled down an embankment near Andover, Massachusetts. Pierce watched as his 11 year old son Benny was horribly decapitated and crushed to death. The Pierces had already had two children die in infancy and first lady Jane Pierce viewed this as some sort of punishment from God for her husband's vane pursuit of political power.
Pierce's popularity in the North declined sharply after he came out in favor of the Kansas–Nebraska Act, repealing the Missouri Compromise and renewing the debate over expanding slavery in the West. Rather than being a uniter, his policies widened the gap between north and south and he was not renominated as the Democratic candidate in 1856. Pierce is quoted as having said "after having been president, what is there left to do but drink?"
After leaving the White House, Pierce retired and traveled with his wife overseas. He returned to the U.S. in 1859 and was critical of Northern abolitionists. In 1860 many Democrats viewed Pierce as a solid compromise choice for the presidential nomination, uniting both Northern and Southern wings of the party, but Pierce declined to run. During the Civil War, Pierce attacked Lincoln for his order suspending habeas corpus. Pierce argued that even in a time of war, the country should not abandon its protection of civil liberties. In 1864, friends again put his name in play for the Democratic nomination, but once again Pierce would not run. His reputation was greatly damaged following the Battle of Vicksburg, when Union soldiers captured Confederate President Jefferson Davis' Fleetwood Plantation, and found Davis' personal correspondence to Pierce. Pierce had written to Davis about "the madness of northern abolitionism." In another letter Pierce wrote that he would "never justify, sustain, or in any way or to any extent uphold this cruel, heartless, aimless unnecessary war," and that "the true purpose of the war was to wipe out the states and destroy property."
On April 16, 1865, when news had spread of the assassinaton of President Lincoln, an angry mob of young teenagers gathered outside Pierce's home in Concord. The crowd wanted to know why Pierce's house was not dressed with black bunting and American flags, the visual proof of grief being used that day by millions of people across the country. Pierce came outside to confront the crowd and said he, too, was saddened by Lincoln's passing. When a voice in the crowd yelled out "Where is your flag?" Pierce became angry and recalled his family's long devotion to the country, including both his and his father's service in the military. He said he needed to display no flag to prove that he was a loyal American. The crowd soon quieted down and even cheered and applauded Pierce as he went back into his home.
Franklin Pierce died in Concord, New Hampshire, at 4:49 am on October 8, 1869, at 64 years old. President Ulysses S. Grant declared a day of national mourning. Pierce is buried in the Old North Cemetery in Concord.
Two unique things about Pierce: (1) he is the only President, thus far, to be affirmed (i.e. a non-religious promise) instead of being sworn into office. He placed his hand on a law book rather than a bible. (2) he is the only President to serve a full term in office and finish with the same cabinet members that he came into office with. Through thick and thin, all seven of his cabinet members stuck with him throughout his presidency, none quit and none were fired or replaced.
Pierce had come into office as a popular and likeable northerner who was acceptable to southerners and who everyone thought would keep the fragile union together. It's likely that Pierce's interest in the job was severely affected when, on the train ride to his inauguration, the train derailed and rolled down an embankment near Andover, Massachusetts. Pierce watched as his 11 year old son Benny was horribly decapitated and crushed to death. The Pierces had already had two children die in infancy and first lady Jane Pierce viewed this as some sort of punishment from God for her husband's vane pursuit of political power.
Pierce's popularity in the North declined sharply after he came out in favor of the Kansas–Nebraska Act, repealing the Missouri Compromise and renewing the debate over expanding slavery in the West. Rather than being a uniter, his policies widened the gap between north and south and he was not renominated as the Democratic candidate in 1856. Pierce is quoted as having said "after having been president, what is there left to do but drink?"
After leaving the White House, Pierce retired and traveled with his wife overseas. He returned to the U.S. in 1859 and was critical of Northern abolitionists. In 1860 many Democrats viewed Pierce as a solid compromise choice for the presidential nomination, uniting both Northern and Southern wings of the party, but Pierce declined to run. During the Civil War, Pierce attacked Lincoln for his order suspending habeas corpus. Pierce argued that even in a time of war, the country should not abandon its protection of civil liberties. In 1864, friends again put his name in play for the Democratic nomination, but once again Pierce would not run. His reputation was greatly damaged following the Battle of Vicksburg, when Union soldiers captured Confederate President Jefferson Davis' Fleetwood Plantation, and found Davis' personal correspondence to Pierce. Pierce had written to Davis about "the madness of northern abolitionism." In another letter Pierce wrote that he would "never justify, sustain, or in any way or to any extent uphold this cruel, heartless, aimless unnecessary war," and that "the true purpose of the war was to wipe out the states and destroy property."
On April 16, 1865, when news had spread of the assassinaton of President Lincoln, an angry mob of young teenagers gathered outside Pierce's home in Concord. The crowd wanted to know why Pierce's house was not dressed with black bunting and American flags, the visual proof of grief being used that day by millions of people across the country. Pierce came outside to confront the crowd and said he, too, was saddened by Lincoln's passing. When a voice in the crowd yelled out "Where is your flag?" Pierce became angry and recalled his family's long devotion to the country, including both his and his father's service in the military. He said he needed to display no flag to prove that he was a loyal American. The crowd soon quieted down and even cheered and applauded Pierce as he went back into his home.
Franklin Pierce died in Concord, New Hampshire, at 4:49 am on October 8, 1869, at 64 years old. President Ulysses S. Grant declared a day of national mourning. Pierce is buried in the Old North Cemetery in Concord.
Two unique things about Pierce: (1) he is the only President, thus far, to be affirmed (i.e. a non-religious promise) instead of being sworn into office. He placed his hand on a law book rather than a bible. (2) he is the only President to serve a full term in office and finish with the same cabinet members that he came into office with. Through thick and thin, all seven of his cabinet members stuck with him throughout his presidency, none quit and none were fired or replaced.