Zachary Taylor (Profiles of the Presidents)

Rating:
Summary: Zachary Taylor and the "what might have been" of US history
Review: One of the amazing aspects of looking at the stories of the American presidents is how often history repeats itself. Most young students today are aware that if your father was President of the United States, had served as the Vice President for a popular President, and served only one term in office, that you too could be President, provided you had the same first name as your father, but a different middle name. When you won the White House you would do so despite having less popular votes than your challenger. This might be too much for a Hollywood script, but this is the way coincidence functions in American history.

Then there is the case of the Whigs, the party that opposed the Democrats when they were known as the Democratic-Republicans and who were replaced on the national stage by the Republicans. There were four Whig Presidents, only two of who were elected. They were both military heroes and they both died in office, serving only 17 months between them. Consequently, in telling the story of Zachary Taylor or the Profiles of the Presidents series Robin S. Doak faces a challenge, because in his 16 months in office he had little chance to accomplish anything. So Doak instead focuses primarily on the unusual road Taylor took to the White House, a story made all the stranger because Taylor had never voted before he was elected President.

Preface this juvenile biography with the idea that above all Taylor was committed to the Union, Doak tells the story of a young boy who grew up in Kentucky and became a career military officer who earned the nickname "Old Rough and Ready" during the defeat of the Shawnee chief Tecumseh during the War of 1812, the Black Hawk War of 1832 and the Second Seminole War in 1837. During the Mexican War it was Taylor who won the initial battles before war had been formally declared by Congress. However, after allowing the Mexican soldiers to retreat from Monterrey, a furious President James K. Polk ordered Taylor to stop his advance into Mexico and gave the honor of attacking Mexico City to General Winfield Scott. Ironically, Taylor became a national hero when Santa Ana's army attacked the smaller American army and was defeated.

Consequently, it becomes clear why Rough and Ready Clubs sprung up across the nation and demanded Taylor seek the presidency. Like another Dwight Eisenhower over a century later, the general had to announce which party affiliation he claimed. Taylor declared himself a Whig and was elected President. Young readers will be surprised that Taylor ran for President primarily by keeping his mouth shut, letting Southerners assume he would support slavery and Northerners believe he would preserve the Union. The truth turned out to be the later, and although Taylor's death (from drinking tainted milk) would undo his decision to have California and New Mexico both declared free territories, Hoak makes it clear that Taylor was a strong supporter of the Union. When Southern states made noise about leaving the Union, he promised he would personally lead an army into the South and hang all the traitors. Given the long string of "dough faced" Presidents, who maintained the status quo on the slavery issue, Taylor's strong stand does him honor.

Young readers will be impressed with the story of this admittedly minor President, who did not serve long enough to have a substantial impact on American history. However, the question of what would have happened if Taylor had served his full term is an intriguing one and readers can entertain the fanciful idea that Zachary Taylor might have been a strong enough leader to divert the nation from what we now consider to be an inevitable Civil War.

In the back of this book you will find a glossary, fast facts about the president, a parallel timeline of world and presidential events, lists of resources that will help young readers better understand the life and times of Taylor, and an index. There are colorful period illustrations on virtually every page, which is one of the things that makes this series a visual treat. However, this is not done at the expense of information and the Profiles of the Presidents series is an excellent place for any young student to begin their study of a particular President.

Rating:
Summary: Zachary Taylor and the "what might have been" of US history
Review: One of the amazing aspects of looking at the stories of the American presidents is how often history repeats itself. Most young students today are aware that if your father was President of the United States, had served as the Vice President for a popular President, and served only one term in office, that you too could be President, provided you had the same first name as your father, but a different middle name. When you won the White House you would do so despite having less popular votes than your challenger. This might be too much for a Hollywood script, but this is the way coincidence functions in American history.

Then there is the case of the Whigs, the party that opposed the Democrats when they were known as the Democratic-Republicans and who were replaced on the national stage by the Republicans. There were four Whig Presidents, only two of who were elected. They were both military heroes and they both died in office, serving only 17 months between them. Consequently, in telling the story of Zachary Taylor or the Profiles of the Presidents series Robin S. Doak faces a challenge, because in his 16 months in office he had little chance to accomplish anything. So Doak instead focuses primarily on the unusual road Taylor took to the White House, a story made all the stranger because Taylor had never voted before he was elected President.

Preface this juvenile biography with the idea that above all Taylor was committed to the Union, Doak tells the story of a young boy who grew up in Kentucky and became a career military officer who earned the nickname "Old Rough and Ready" during the defeat of the Shawnee chief Tecumseh during the War of 1812, the Black Hawk War of 1832 and the Second Seminole War in 1837. During the Mexican War it was Taylor who won the initial battles before war had been formally declared by Congress. However, after allowing the Mexican soldiers to retreat from Monterrey, a furious President James K. Polk ordered Taylor to stop his advance into Mexico and gave the honor of attacking Mexico City to General Winfield Scott. Ironically, Taylor became a national hero when Santa Ana's army attacked the smaller American army and was defeated.

Consequently, it becomes clear why Rough and Ready Clubs sprung up across the nation and demanded Taylor seek the presidency. Like another Dwight Eisenhower over a century later, the general had to announce which party affiliation he claimed. Taylor declared himself a Whig and was elected President. Young readers will be surprised that Taylor ran for President primarily by keeping his mouth shut, letting Southerners assume he would support slavery and Northerners believe he would preserve the Union. The truth turned out to be the later, and although Taylor's death (from drinking tainted milk) would undo his decision to have California and New Mexico both declared free territories, Hoak makes it clear that Taylor was a strong supporter of the Union. When Southern states made noise about leaving the Union, he promised he would personally lead an army into the South and hang all the traitors. Given the long string of "dough faced" Presidents, who maintained the status quo on the slavery issue, Taylor's strong stand does him honor.

Young readers will be impressed with the story of this admittedly minor President, who did not serve long enough to have a substantial impact on American history. However, the question of what would have happened if Taylor had served his full term is an intriguing one and readers can entertain the fanciful idea that Zachary Taylor might have been a strong enough leader to divert the nation from what we now consider to be an inevitable Civil War.

In the back of this book you will find a glossary, fast facts about the president, a parallel timeline of world and presidential events, lists of resources that will help young readers better understand the life and times of Taylor, and an index. There are colorful period illustrations on virtually every page, which is one of the things that makes this series a visual treat. However, this is not done at the expense of information and the Profiles of the Presidents series is an excellent place for any young student to begin their study of a particular President.