The forgettable Millard Fillmore

[snopes]

Few figures in American history have aroused such overwhelming indifference as Millard Fillmore. Ascending to the presidency following the death of Zachary Taylor, Fillmore was dubbed an "accidental" president. But before long he would gain more colorful tags, such as "inept," "vacuous" and "doughface." Indeed, no sooner had he clambered into his new position as head of state than he seemed to let drop the reins of power.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/...,3675801.story

[Tantei Kid]

Well, the man did pretty much kill the Whig party, though it may have just been a general trend in waning popularity that allowed that to happen. It is true that he was better suited to the career of a VP though.

[Thera]

From the recedes of my mind has just sprung a Cosby Show episode where they are playing some sort of trivia game. The daughter prepares to give the necessary clues, but then stops and says, "I didn't even know he was a president!"

To which the boy promptly gives the correct answer: "Millard Fillmore!"

[Bad Ronald]

And, yet, who can not be inspired by his (alleged) last words...
"The nourishment was palatable"?

[PatYoung]

Fillmore helped found my alma mater, University of Buffalo. He also ran as a third party candidate for President on an anti-immigrant platform.

[Ali Infree]

His campaign was against immigration and Catholics, a nativist reversion to the good old days, as perceived by them. Some things never change, although the immediate objects of derision and disgust do.

[matches]

Originally Posted by Tantei Kid

Well, the man did pretty much kill the Whig party, though it may have just been a general trend in waning popularity that allowed that to happen. It is true that he was better suited to the career of a VP though.

That the Whig party was formed in direct opposition to Andrew Jackson, and Andrew Jackson, I belive was dead by this time...yes I would say it was waning in popularity.

[snopes]

Call it sheer coincidence. But when it comes to historical reputation, the nation’s 13th president may also be its unluckiest.

Millard Fillmore. The name itself sounds vaguely ridiculous. And that’s pretty much how the poor fellow rates in the popular imagination, 133 years after his death.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/18/we...w/18vince.html

[Ramblin' Dave]

Sorry, but he stood by idly as president and let the slide to war continue, and then he ran for president again on a platform that was racist even by 19th century standards. Those are the real reasons why he is not looked on kindly by history, not his name (which admittedly is pretty, well, dated).

Also, Fillmore is only one of several mediocre presidents (sorry for the Simpsons earworm!) who gained popularity among conservatives in the 1990s after somebody wrote an op-ed comparing them to Clinton. Every time that happened, you could count on letters to the editor detailing just what a wonderful man and president Fillmore (or Hayes, or Arthur, or Tyler, etc.) was and how dare you compare Slick Willie to him?

[Kahdra]

Millard Fillmore helped fund the initial construction of the Utah Territorial Statehouse, conveniently located in the town of Fillmore, county seat of Millard County.

Of course, as soon as Utah became a state, the capital was moved to Salt Lake City. If the citizens of Utah Territory had known how minimal Fillmore's influence would be, I'm sure they would have named the Territorial capital "Pierce".