Wikipedia:Today's featured article/requests/Franklin Pierce

Franklin Pierce

 * This is the archived discussion of the TFAR nomination for the article below. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as Wikipedia talk:Today's featured article/requests). Please do not modify this page. 

The result was: scheduled for Today's featured article/November 23, 2014 by BencherliteTalk 22:27, 12 November 2014 (UTC)



Franklin Pierce (1804–1869) was the 14th President of the United States (1853–1857), whose inability as president to calm tensions over slavery kept the country on the path to the American Civil War. A northern Democrat from New Hampshire, Pierce served in the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate and took part in the Mexican–American War as a brigadier general in the Army before his election as a compromise candidate for president. Genial and well-spoken, Pierce saw the abolitionist movement as a fundamental threat to the unity of the nation. He was a Young America expansionist who signed the Gadsden Purchase of land from Mexico and led a failed attempt to acquire Cuba from Spain. His polarizing actions in championing and signing the Kansas–Nebraska Act and enforcing the Fugitive Slave Act failed to stem intersectional conflict. His term set the stage for Southern secession. Although he fully expected to be renominated by the Democrats, he was not supported by his party for re-election. Pierce, who had been a heavy drinker for much of his life, died of severe cirrhosis of the liver in 1869. Today he is widely regarded as one of the worst presidents in U.S. history.
 * Most recent similar article(s): U.S. political bio, John Hay (October 8, 2014)
 * Main editors: Designate, Wehwalt
 * Promoted: 2014
 * Reasons for nomination: 210th anniversary of birth. This would be my (Designate's) first TFA.
 * Support as nominator. Designate (talk) 06:54, 17 October 2014 (UTC)
 * Support of course.--Wehwalt (talk) 07:00, 17 October 2014 (UTC)
 * Support, high quality article about this deceased politician who is not alive and is no longer living and is now dead. Most educational and encyclopedic. I hope one day he finds whatever he was looking for under his shirt as shown in File:Mathew Brady - Franklin Pierce.jpg. Cheers, &mdash; Cirt (talk) 12:08, 17 October 2014 (UTC)
 * Support, per Cirt. I enjoyed this a lot and I think visitors to the main page will also like it.  This is a great representation of Wikipedias finest articles.  Cassianto talk 18:17, 18 October 2014 (UTC)
 * Support as a well-written article, and very honorable for the anniversary of his birth. Job VERY well done.  Snuggums ( talk  /  edits ) 20:28, 21 October 2014 (UTC)
 * Support —  Cliftonian   (talk)  17:24, 24 October 2014 (UTC)
 * Support historical stuff always good on mainpage. Cas Liber (talk · contribs) 22:27, 26 October 2014 (UTC)
 * Comment Three more sentences should be added; currently at 885 characters rather than 1200. Prhartcom (talk) 22:12, 29 October 2014 (UTC)
 * Support. There was no response to my comment, so I have now done this myself. Feel free to make any changes. Prhartcom (talk) 22:23, 8 November 2014 (UTC)