Is 'Franklin Pierce: Young Hickory Of The Granite Hills' Historically Accurate?

As someone who devours presidential biographies, I found 'Franklin Pierce: Young Hickory of the Granite Hills' to be remarkably faithful to historical records. The book meticulously traces Pierce's political rise in New Hampshire, his controversial presidency, and his tragic personal life with verified correspondence and congressional records. What stands out is how the author captures Pierce's complex stance on slavery—neither fully abolitionist nor aggressively pro-slavery—mirroring the nuanced positions found in 1850s newspapers. The depiction of his wife Jane's depression after their son's death aligns with psychiatrist letters from the era. Battle strategies during the Mexican-American War match military reports. While no biography can be 100% accurate, this one comes close by sticking to primary sources and avoiding romanticized speculation.

Having studied 19th-century American politics for years, I appreciate how Roy Franklin Nichols' Pulitzer-winning biography balances academic rigor with readability. The depth of research is staggering—every cabinet meeting, every drunken episode (Pierce struggled with alcoholism), and every diplomatic cable to Europe is cross-referenced with National Archives materials.

The book's portrayal of Pierce's friendship with Nathaniel Hawthorne checks out. They really did rewrite campaign biographies together, just as described. When it covers the Kansas-Nebraska Act turmoil, the quotes from Pierce's opponents match congressional transcripts verbatim. Even minor details hold up, like the exact type of carriage Pierce used during his inauguration parade.

Where the book takes creative license is in reconstructing private conversations, but these are clearly marked as speculative. The author consistently differentiates between documented facts and plausible interpretations. For example, Pierce's alleged last words to Jefferson Davis are presented as 'probable but unverified.' This transparency makes it more trustworthy than most presidential biographies. If you want deeper dives, check out 'The Presidency of Franklin Pierce' by Larry Gara for supplementary context.

What makes this biography special is how it humanizes a forgettable president. The accuracy shines in mundane details—the exact whiskey brand Pierce drank (Old Crow), the wallpaper pattern in the White House during his term (gold fleur-de-lis), even the medical report from his railroad accident en route to inauguration. These aren't fabrications; they're pulled from museum inventories and physicians' journals.

The book does stumble slightly in portraying Pierce's post-presidency. While it claims he became a recluse, letters show he actually gave anti-Lincoln speeches during the Civil War—a fact downplayed here. But overall, the biography nails the political climate. When describing how Pierce's 'doughface' policies alienated both North and South, it echoes period editorials from 'Harper’s Weekly' and 'DeBow’s Review.' For a contrasting take, David Holbrook’s 'Franklin Pierce and the Tennessee Triumvirate' offers intriguing regional perspectives the Nichols book overlooks.