The Presidencies of Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore

by Elbert B. Smith

In this book Elbert B. Smith disagrees sharply with traditional interpretations of Taylor and Fillmore, the twelfth and thirteenth presidents (from 1848 to 1853). He argues persuasively that the slaveholding Taylor--and not John C. Calhoun--was the realistic defender of southern slaveholding interests, and that Taylor did nothing to impede the Compromise of 1850. While Taylor opposed the combination of the issues into a single compromise bill that could not be passed without ammendments to suit the extremists, he would have approved the different parts of the Compromise that were ultimately passed as separate measures.

Most historians have written that Taylor's death and Fillmore's accession led to an abrupt change in presidential policy, but Smith believes that continuity predominated. Taylor wanted the controversies debated and acted upon as separate bills. Fillmore helped to accomplish this. Taylor was ready to defend New Mexico against Texas. Fillmore ordered 750 additional troops to New Mexico and announced publicly that he would do the same. Taylor had wanted statehood for California and New Mexico with self-determination on slavery. As separate measures, the Congress admitted California and preserved a viable New Mexico as a territory authorized to make its own decision on slavery.

With secessionists pitted against moderates in the southern elections of 1851, Fillmore had to choose between his constitutional oath and his personal antipathy to the new fugitive slave law. He supported the law and thereby helped keep southern moderates in power for a few more years. In fact, however, his efforts did not recapture a single slave. In Smith's view, Fillmore's most serious mistake was refusing in 1852 to get himself nominated for another term.

Smith argues that Taylor and Fillmore have been seriously misrepresented and underrated. They faced a terrible national crisis and accepted every responsibility without flinching or directing blame toward anyone else.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir

320 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1988

About the author

A graduate of Maryville College in Tennessee Elbert B. Smith earned his master’s (1947) and Ph.D, (1949) in history from the University of Chicago. Smith taught at Youngstown University, Iowa State University, and the University of Wisconsin before moving to the University of Maryland, where he retired as professor emeritus as American history.

Reviews

[Adam Carman · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a far cry from Finkelman's volume, Smith argues that Fillmore was not a far cry from the policies of his predecessor Taylor and was in fact a decently qualified President. He gives Fillmore the benefit of the doubt and points out the many similarities between him and Taylor (both wishes to pass the Compromise Bills separately not as one omnibus and both were willing to defend New Mexico against Texas). Unlike Finkelman he claims Fillmore was NOT a believer in the Fugitive Slave Law but he felt it his duty to enforce. Still he simply makes assertions without offering quotes to support. I'd say the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle of the two volumes.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

On lists of Presidents in order of their effectiveness, Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore often wind up on bottom of the list. Searching for good biographies on either of them was difficult - very few recent ones out there, and very few with good reviews. This book, part of the "American Presidency" series, covered the two administrations in great detail.

The period was a difficult time for the United States. There were foreign relations issues with France and England, Hungary tried to win its independence, but Taylor picked the wrong side to support. The two primary political parties were undergoing rapid changes. While slavery was clearly an issue, it was beneath the surface as sections of the country focused on admitting California and New Mexico territories to the Union. Threats of secession abounded.

Taylor was a General and a war hero in the Mexican-American War. Like many Presidents before him, this was all he needed to be elected. He had neither political aspirations nor experience before his election. A southerner and a slave owner, Taylor had a remarkable view of conciliation, trying to keep the south in line and accept concessions to keep the Union intact. Many southerners also knew that Taylor supported states' rights and was opposed to protective tariffs and government spending for internal improvements. Taylor saw himself as an independent (although his party affiliation was actually Whig).

Early in his term, the primary crisis facing the Union was the new state of Texas claiming part of New Mexico for itself. In part, this had to do with the slave trade and the south's determination to expand slavery to new states. Taylor held firm, defending New Mexico. Another issue during his administration was the South wanting to annex Cuba. Military expeditions were sent by Militias. These were ultimately defeated by the Spanish Navy. While many of those trying to invade Cuba were killed, Taylor was able to secure a negotiation release of the remaining prisoners of war.

After serving only 18 months, Taylor died in office of an unknown digestive ailment. He was immediately succeeded by his Vice President Millard Fillmore. Fillmore, also a Whig, was a northerner who did not want slavery to expand into new territories. Like his predecessor, he was more interested in compromise to ensure the health of the Union. Also unlike Taylor, Fillmore was not a military hero and his adult life was spent in public service.

Although reportedly very different politically than Taylor, Fillmore kept many of Taylor's policies intact. What has become known as the "Compromise of 1850" was a package of bills on admitting California and New Mexico to the Union, Texas giving up their claim to any of New Mexico, Support for the Wilmot Proviso (said that New Mexico and Utah could determine on their own if they would be slave states), the Fugitive Slave Act whereby escaped slaves could not be harbored in non-slave states and must be returned to their owners, and finally it banned slave trading from the District of Columbia. This integrated bill was supported by both Taylor and Fillmore. As put together, there was no way it would pass, politically. But, through work, Fillmore was able to work with Congress to separate this into multiple bills, which on their own were able to be passed.

A couple of notable points from the Fillmore administration (1) he sent Federal troops to help persuade Texas to take no action against New Mexico and (2) he worked to open Japan to trade with the United States opening the doorway to China.

The book itself read like a congressional replay. Every detail of every discussion; every comment made by any senator or representative seems to be introduced. There was way too much detail to get the big picture. For a student of how decisions are reached in congress, this may be an interesting history. But, for the person who wants to understand the person and the relevant points of a Presidency, this was much too much information. I found reading the book to be interesting, informative, but very slow.

[Scott Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 stars) It is harder to find two more obscure presidents than Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore. Taylor was elected in 1848, with Fillmore as VP. However, when Taylor died in 1850, Fillmore became the second VP in a 10-year span to become President. They were the presidents as the US entered perhaps the most turbulent decade in American history. Both men had to face the rising threat of slavery and sectional division within a nation bursting at the seams. There is a major what if factor for Taylor, Fillmore and the Compromise of 1850 that attempted to thwart divisions, but ultimate set the stage for national disunity that would come within 10 years. If Taylor lived, what might he have done?

The author takes pains to try to promote the positive aspects of their leadership, especially since they are among the lowest rated presidents in history. Given that neither really had the chance to enact a full term, it can be hard to given an objective grade. However, Fillmore, especially by allowing the Fugitive Slave Act to go forward, as well as his association with the No-Knowings in 1856, would gain his reputation all too honestly.

This work was written in 1988, and in the subsequent years, neither men’s reputation has really improved all that much. It is likely that they will not see a major historical upswing in their reputations. They did little to quell the unrest in the nation, and by serving so short a term without many positive aspects, it is not realistic to expect any major improvement in their standings. Still, they did lead, and it is important to take all lessons, good and bad, from their actions.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

Can we say TOO MUCH DETAIL? About boring things. Wow. I recommend this book ONLY to very die-hard history buffs who enjoy the mundane of the political world. You will enjoy being enveloped in a confetti of congressional happenings.

Okay, so now that I've gotten that out of my system - I was very pleasantly surprised by the men this book was written about. In between congressional votes and maneuvering, you were able to catch glimpses of the lives of Taylor and Fillmore. Both were very moral men, truthful, and not "in it for themselves." I think that more needs to be said about Zachary Taylor and Millard Fillmore. After reading about several different political stars who seemed to be all about advancing themselves, it was very nice to read about men who were true leaders, leading by example, and leading because they felt called to do so.

[Fred Kohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in this series I have read and the best so far, although truthfully I remember little about the first one (on Nixon) that I read seven years ago. That book was considerably longer than the other two I have read (by about 100 pages) and I remember it being a difficult read. This series in general is harder to read than the American Presidents Series edited by Arthur Schlesinger Jr. The Schlesinger series is aimed at a more general audience, I think, and being more biographical have more personal details which make them more readable.

This book about Taylor and Fillmore had more personal anecdotes than the book I read on Garfield and Arthur, therefore I enjoyed it more. In this book I learned that president Taylor had a horse named Old Whitey. That was a nice detail that was left out of the Taylor biography in the Schlesinger series. I especially enjoyed the detail where Taylor, as an officer, wooled an enlisted man. Wooling is an old disciplinary technique where the officer grabs the soldier by the ears and shakes him vigorously. Once Taylor did this to a German soldier who didn’t understand English very well and disobeyed a command. When Taylor wooled him, the soldier knocked Taylor flat. The other soldiers wanted to shoot the poor German, but Taylor said, "Let that man alone. He will make a good soldier."

The detail I enjoyed most about Millard Fillmore was that when Oxford offered him an honorary degree, he turned it down, saying, "I had not the advantage of a classical education, and no man should, in my judgment, accept a degree he cannot read."

A major difference between the two books is that the Taylor/Fillmore book contained more detail about the pre-presidential careers of both men (and in the case of Fillmore, his post-presidential career) than the Garfield/Arthur book. In the case of Fillmore, his pre-presidential career occupied only a few pages, but several pages were devoted to Taylor's (more notable than Fillmore's, I suppose) pre-presidential career. In this sense the book belies its title, which leads us to believe that the book is about the *presidencies* of the two men, rather than their lives when they were not presidents.

Nobody much remembers the presidencies of Zachary Taylor or Millard Fillmore these days but this book makes them come alive for a modern reader. This period of time leading up to the Civil War is more significant than people generally credit it for, and Smith gives us a very credible account of it.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of all the presidents, Millard Fillmore may have the worst public perception. There is even a group spoofing him as the most forgettable president in history. I first learned of this group when Johnny Carson mentioned it during a monologue on an episode of the Tonight Show. It is of course absolutely false; Fillmore was a strong president with deeply held beliefs who acted in the best interests of the country. While he was a New Yorker and personally despised slavery, Fillmore upheld the great compromise of 1850 and continued the policies of Zachary Taylor.
Taylor was the owner of many slaves, but all indications are that he was a very benevolent owner. He was also a pragmatist, understanding all too well that economic conditions dictated that slavery was not viable in the newly acquired western territories. Above all else, he was a unionist, stating in no uncertain terms that he would use federal troops against anyone who tried to break the union. As a former general, he was very credible when he threatened to personally lead federal troops in the potential battle between New Mexico and Texas. All through the years of the presidencies of Taylor and Fillmore, there is the clear movement towards the war that broke out ten years later.
Both men have traditionally been ranked in the bottom level of presidents, largely due to the terrible events of the civil war. Smith is absolutely right in going beyond this simplistic view and explaining the tremendous successes that both men achieved as president. The circumstances were beginning to spiral out of control and three political giants; Henry Clay, Daniel Webster and John C. Calhoun all were passing from the scene. Even in retrospect, it is hard to see how they could have done more to preserve the union. Two great tragedies that helped lead to the civil war are explained in great detail. The death of Taylor after only sixteen months in office was a disaster. If he had survived and served two terms, it is very possible that the lurch toward sectional war could have been held in check. As a southern slaveholder and a strong unionist Taylor had credibility to oppose southern secessionists that few others had. His last complete year in office would have been 1956, and the Whig party would have survived. The demise of the Whig party was the key disaster, as it led to the rise of the Republican Party, which had trivial support in the slaveholding areas. While the Whig party had enormous internal problems, the fact that they could elect southern slaveholders to the presidency demonstrates that they were a national party.
While the events that came after their term in office must be included in any historical analysis of a president, a sensible sense of perspective must be maintained. Other people rise to hold political offices and their actions have more effect on events than their predecessors do. Taylor and Fillmore have been maligned for events that were largely beyond their control. Yes, there were things that they could have done differently while in office that could have helped heal the growing sectional rifts. However, on balance their presidencies were more successful than they have traditionally been given credit for. Smith breaks with that tradition, by concentrating on what they did, he describes two men who held the rudder of state on as even a keel as was humanly possible. Those were times of great looming dangers; they fought them with great skill and determination. Unfortunately, they passed from the scene all too quickly.

This review also appears on Amazon

[Steven Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another in the American Presidency series. Elbert Smith examines two of the lesser known and lower rated chief executives--Zachary Taylor ("Old Rough and Ready") and Millard Fillmore. By the end of the book, the author had convinced me that these two deserve higher ratings than most historians are willing to grant them.

The book begins by noting the ethos of the times when Taylor ascended to the presidency, with Millard Fillmore as his V-P. Smith says (page 1): "The United States in 1848 was a nation of many paradoxes. The prevailing mood of those who expressed themselves publicly was one of exuberant pride and optimism, but for many these feelings were tempered by bad conscience, hurt pride, and angry resentments." Taylor and Fillmore presided over a country badly divided by region and the issue of race, and there was talk of secession throughout much of their term. It was also a time of dramatic change, with the railroad beginning to change internal movement of people and goods, with newly invented farm tools making agriculture more productive, and with the telegraph presaging much more rapid communication.

The book begins by providing historical context: the changing technology of the era, as already noted; the political climate; the increasingly touchy Southern defensiveness regarding slavery.

Then, brief biographical sketches of both Taylor and Fillmore, giving the reader a sense of where they had come from and who they were when elected as President and Vice President.

Taylor only served a year and a half until his untimely death. In that time, he actually developed a decent record, with one of the highlights being his effort to prevent civil war from breaking out in 1850. He worked publicly and behind the scenes to try to create a compromise over admission of free versus slave states and other intertwined issues. he showed steadiness and political courage in the process.

After his death, Fillmore acceded to the presidency. This former Mayor of Buffalo also handled the threat of secession pretty well. While his position wasn't the same as Taylor's he continued the effort to work out a compromise. In the end, the Compromise of 1850 averted conflict and secession for another decade. Taylor and Fillmore appear to warrant some of the credit.

The tale continues with coverage of the rest of his presidency, his being "dumped" by the party in 1852, his later run for that office as a "Know-Nothing," and the final years of his life.

All in all, a nice volume. One clear index of the book's value. It sure changed my mind about two presidents and gave me a greater appreciation of their role in a turbulent time. Certainly, one would not rate them among the all-time greats. But they deserve better credit than what they have received.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great little book! I thought Smith did a stellar job bringing balance to some really difficult history. It makes me sad that these presidents are so often forgotten in the shadow of Lincoln. Both Taylor and Fillmore tried desperately to maintain sectional peace at a time when the South seemed intent on being insulted. I found myself really liking both of these guys, they were both tasked with seemingly impossible national issues. I also enjoyed how the book is *only* about their terms in office. I have noticed that I don't enjoy the lives of presidents, so much as I enjoy reading about the careers and politics. I remember enjoying Fillmore's speeches, I'm considering taking a detour to read his political writing.

[Don Heiman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elbert Smith's book on the Taylor and Fillmore presidencies is enlightening. The book presents an outstanding analysis of the 1850 great compromise that set the context for the American Civil War. If Taylor had lived and won the 1852 presidential election, the author believes there would have been no "Bleeding Kansas" and perhaps America would have been in a better position to resolve her North and South conflict over slavery and state's rights.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thorough (for its length) but somewhat boring book. It suited my purposes.