Worst Presidents: Zachary Taylor (1849-1850)
Sliding in at No. 10, Zachary Taylor was more a forgettable president than a failed one. And the reason is simple: The 12th president was probably the least politically attuned man to occupy the White House in American history, ignorant, one might say, to the point of innocence.
Born in Virginia and raised in Kentucky, he was a country boy and a fearless soldier who fought and commanded in major actions spanning the War of 1812 and the Mexican War. Jealous fellow generals mocked his lack of learning and polish—he seldom wore his uniform and was often mistaken for a farmer—but no less than Abraham Lincoln praised the steady judgment that enabled him to overcome unfavorable odds in numerous battles.
The Whigs saw a good thing when they picked him as their candidate in 1848. A slaveholder who defended the "peculiar institution" in the South, he opposed its extension into new states as vigorously as he objected to the idea of secession.
Some think his opposition to what became the Compromise of 1850—which began to undo the Missouri Compromise—might have precipitated the outbreak of the Civil War. If it had, Taylor would not have hesitated to take on the would-be seceders. And his war record might have given them pause.
But the test never came. He died after only a little more than a year in office.
Reader Comments
Z. Taylor
I read nothing here that made him a bad president. If he hadn't died in office I'm sure his legacy would have been better. Imagine if he had set the groundwork to avoid the civil war altogether? Abe Lincoln might have been just a footnote. Without the Civil War, what kind of president would Lincoln have been?
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zachary taylor was cooooooooooooooooool!!!!!!!!!!!!
laughable analysis
'Jealous fellow generals mocked his lack of learning and polish'
this is provocative history of the first degree.
taylor was a winner.... in numerous campaigns on the frontier.... the northwest territories, florida, texas....
let us not forget that lauded president Polk was so paranoid about Taylor's numerous brilliant victories in the early part of the mexican american war that he recalled Taylor.... fearful of his political power...... the rear guard victory at buena vista caused some real paranoia in the polk whitehouse... just look at the group of soldiers at buena vista and monterrey who venerated taylor as a commander.... it's a who's who of future great american military leaders... have you read Grant's autobiography??? the parallel between Taylor's peace with the Mexicans at Monterrey and Grant's amnesty to Lee at Appomattox???
so Taylor, the political ingenue goes to washington on the back of the whig political machine..... when he gets there, he does not follow the southern whigs program.... all of a sudden this warrior, who has fought in every possible bad weather condition dies... because of some milk and cherries??? does that make sense?
in terms of the record, it is pretty clear. Taylor viewed the preservation of the Union to be more important than anything else. He was opposed to the compromise that Fillmore eventually signed off on. Taylor died. Does that make him a bad president?
History is revised by the 'winners.'
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