Thursday, February 24, 2011

Ranking the Presidents #36


MILLARD FILLMORE (W) - 1850-1853

One of those rare presidents whose dubious distinction was that his administration led to the annihilation of his political party.

After President Taylor's death, Fillmore became the 13th President, and while his past would have indicated anti-slavery positions, he immediately started instigating pro-slavery measures, his worst being the Fugitive Slave Act. Many Whigs instantly regretted approving him as Taylor's Vice-President, and after Fillmore failed to win a second term, he joined the anti-Catholic, anti-immigrant Know-Nothing party, while many of the anti-slavery Whigs, including Lincoln, flocked to the Republican party.

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