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Franklin Pierce (2010)

by Michael F. Holt(Favorite Author)

3.33 of 5 Votes: 2

ISBN

0805087192 (ISBN13: 9780805087192)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Times Books

series

The American Presidents

review 1: Holt does an admirable job of exploring the failures (I'm not sure if there were any successes - I certainly don't remember any from the book) of the Pierce presidency. There's actually not a whole lot to say about what Pierce did do during his one term in office, but it sounds like he basically sat back and did mostly nothing. At least some presidents dither and worry - Pierce seemed to just sit. He makes Calvin Coolidge seem like a mover and shaker, that's for sure. Nero at least fiddled while Rome burned. Pierce did a whole lot of nothing. He was a mostly forgettable legislator. If only he were as forgettable a president - he is memorable, but for his proclivity to do nothing. His post presidency, when he could have built a legacy (Carter, anyone?) he spent drin... moreking like a fish. Franklin Pierce will (hopefully always) be the example of what NOT to do as president. Holt made his material as interesting as he could. As Julie Andrews sang: "Nothing comes from nothing." Actually, something did come from nothing: the Civil War. The 1860s say "thanks."
review 2: There really isn't a whole to say regarding this book about one of our lesser known presidents and apparently one of the worst. Pierce seemed to have married the wrong woman for him - at least personality wise. He was quite the fun loving, partying type and she was the quiet, no nonsense type. While his politics were really way off from mine, I admired that he tried to work with all parties by giving out positions to people in political parties other than his own. Granted that may have been one of the main reasons he was also considered a failure. An informative and short book that gives just enough information to get a feel for the man. less

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