Franklin Pierce: New Hampshire’s Claim To Presidential Fame

I’ve been doing caricatures of U.S. presidents for a side project. Above: Franklin Pierce: the only U.S. president (1853-57) from New Hampshire.

Pierce was born in Hillsboro, NH, just a few miles from where I live. He’s our guy, and he’s considered one of the worst U.S. presidents.

Here’s a quick summary of Pierce’s life and career along with a few reflections.

History

Pierce was an alcoholic and a Southern sympathizer in the run-up to the American Civil War (1861-65).

He signed legislation that allowed new western states like Kansas to decide by popular vote whether slavery was legal. It created a “preliminary” version of the Civil War known as “Bloody Kansas.”

Pierce wanted to preserve the Union, the “land of the free,” even if it meant accommodating slavery.

Thought: He was on the wrong side of history.

So were artists who failed to make the jump to digital. Kodak is a brand which failed to make that same jump.

History is still out on certain brand strategies: fame vs. personalization; being “woke” or not (think Nike’s Colin Kaepernick ads vs. Chick-fil-A’s being closed on Sunday).

Also: “fun” humor that everyone can laugh at vs. “rude” humor that will make some people uncomfortable.

Artificial intelligence is the latest potential divide. Is it destined to revolutionize content creation, or is it just another bubble?

What happens when all AI-generated content starts looking the same, since it’s being pulled from the same databases? Won’t brands that opt for wholly original (human-created) content attract more customers?

Stay tuned.

Chance

Pierce became the Democrats’ 1852 presidential candidate because they couldn’t agree on any of the “big name” contenders. They nominated Pierce on the 49th ballot.

Thought: You never know when your big chance will pop up. You have to be ready. Whether you succeed or fail is another question. Seize the opportunity and do your best.

Influencers

Pierce was a life-long friend of southerner Jefferson Davis, best remembered for being President of the Confederate States during the Civil War.

Thought: Our friends rub off on us, and to some extent, so do their opinions. We have to stay open to different viewpoints if we hope to make wise decisions.

Personal Crosses

Two of Pierce’s sons died in infancy. His remaining son was killed in a train wreck just weeks before Pierce was sworn in as president. Pierce and his wife were on the train. They escaped unharmed, their son was crushed to death.

Thought: Be kind, because you never know what someone is going through. It’s a cliche, but it’s good advice when you’re dealing with customers or anyone else.

Jumping The Line, Bad Luck, Cruel Puns

Pierce served in the Mexican War (1846-48). He had no military experience, but became a colonel via political appointment.

His horse fell on him during a charge. The injuries he sustained caused him to faint during a subsequent battle. He missed most of the action during the war.

His political opponents later portrayed him as a coward. They referenced his drinking problem by saying he was “the hero of many a well-fought bottle.”

Thought: Taking shortcuts is always risky. You need to do the work and gain the experience. Resist the temptation to jump the line because “so-and-so got away with it.”

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I’ll end with a couple of personal notes:

I see a parallel between slavery and abortion. The argument for both is the same: some lives aren’t fully human and therefore have no rights. I think abortion supporters are also on the wrong side of history.I’m a fan of “alternate timeline” fiction: how would history have been different if Event A took place, instead of Event B? if Person A had been in charge, instead of Person B?

I’m also a Catholic who believes that all things (ultimately) work together for good.

If you combine those two ideas (alternate timelines and ultimate good), you could argue that Pierce (and James Buchanan (1857-61) who succeeded him) were “placeholders” of a sort.

Both pushed the country closer to civil war, but they delayed it long enough for the right man to come along at the right time: Abraham Lincoln.

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About Mark: I’m an illustrator specializing in humor, branding, social media, and content marketing. My images are different, like your brand needs to be.

You can view my portfolio, and connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Questions? Send me an email.

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