Inauguration of President Pierce: March 4th, 1853. (Months Past)
Cavendish, Richard, History Today
FRANKLIN PIERCE was no one's initial choice as fourteenth President of the United States, not even his own. The Democratic convention of 1852 took forty-nine ballots to settle on him as its candidate after failing to agree on any of the more fancied runners. Pierce was comparatively unknown, a lawyer and former Senator from New Hampshire. He had held a command in the Mexican War in the 1840s, though an unfair allegation 'of cowardice and his heavy drinking gave opponents a chance to sneer at him as `the hero of many bottles'. Even so, he won the election handily, defeating General Winfield Scott for the Whigs.
At his inauguration the new president caused some surprise by …
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Publication information:
Article title: Inauguration of President Pierce: March 4th, 1853. (Months Past).
Contributors: Cavendish, Richard - Author.
Magazine title: History Today.
Volume: 53.
Issue: 3
Publication date: March 2003.
Page number: 54+.
© 2009 History Today Ltd.
COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group.
This material is protected by copyright and, with the exception of fair use, may not be further copied, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means.
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