Franklin Pierce Fails to Read the Room

Franklin Pierce had all the makings of a successful president - the experience, the military service, the charm - and yet he is often remembered as one of America's worst chief executives. So how did a man with such a fine resume plunge the nation deeper into crisis over the expansion of slavery? Colleen Shogan talks with Pulitizer Prize-winner author David W. Blight about Pierce's pedigree, the Northern Democrat's pro-Southern sympathies, and his misreading of national politics on the eve of the Civil War.

David W. Blight is the Sterling Professor of History at Yale University. He is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom (2018).

Read Blight's essay on Franklin Pierce.

Hosted by Colleen Shogan, Ph.D. Written and Produced by Jim Ambuske, Ph.D. Audio mixing by Curt Dahl of CD Squared. Music from Music Bed. Production Services by Stand Together. In Pursuit is a podcast by More Perfect.

Join the Conversation:

Tell us who inspires you: https://www.inpursuit.org/join.

Please leave a rating and review on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. It helps other listeners find the show.

Follow In Pursuit:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/In-Pursuit-USA-61580409336588/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inpursuitusa/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@inpursuitusa

BlueSkye: https://bsky.app/profile/inpursuitusa.bsky.social