Franklin Pierce — New Hampshire’s “saddest president”
Besides the Presidential Primary and “Live Free or Die!” (the state motto and, for many, an aspiration of sorts), New Hampshire (my “work state” — I reside in Massachusetts) has one more claim to fame as the home state of Franklin Pierce, 14th president of the US who served one term (1853-1857). Pierce is typically regarded by all as worthy of an extremely low rating in that job, and there is no doubt that he was a nice but incompetent gentleman who will probably best be known for his support of the South during the Civil War.
Despite this, his name adorns a college in NH that is best known for its law school (which may separate and become part of the University of New Hampshire in the not too distance future).
That all said, and despite a very informative Wikipedia entry, there is perhaps no better insight into Pierce than a short radio piece titled The Saddest President. Worth a listen, especially if you are in the mood to hear about someone who just could not cut a break….
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