Nathaniel Hawthorne, Party Hack

Nathaniel Hawthorne, between 1860 and 1864.

Photo by Mathew Brady/Library of Congress

Nathaniel Hawthorne was on a remarkable run in the summer of 1852. He had previously won acclaim for his short tales, but a succession of novels that included The Scarlet Letter in 1850, The House of the Seven Gables in 1851, and The Blithedale Romance early in 1852 had launched him into the pantheon of great American writers. He had dug deep in the soil of his native Massachusetts to produce stories rich in historical meaning, contemporary relevance, and psychological intrigue. Given the success of the formula, it is something of a surprise that his next move was to cross the border into New Hampshire and begin plowing up the rocky dirt of the Granite State to produce a political biography of Franklin Pierce, the eventual 13th president of the United States.

Though Pierce is often spoken of as one of the more handsome commanders-in-chief, he is also regarded as one of the worst. What was one of America?s greatest writers doing shilling for a candidate who was counted a mediocrity even in his own day? Campaign biographies had been a regular feature of presidential politics since Andrew Jackson?s emergence in the 1820s, but as one contemporary reviewer noted, ?there are ?hacks? enough ... in every city, who would be right and well fitted to perform such filthy work.? Then, as now, The Life of Franklin Pierce (which the same review called a ?venal homage to ambitious mediocrity?) seemed beneath the talents of Nathaniel Hawthorne.

The easy explanation for why Hawthorne chose to ?degrade his pen into a party tool? is that he and Pierce were old mates from their student days at Bowdoin College in the 1820s. When Pierce won the Democratic Party?s nomination in 1852, Hawthorne quickly volunteered to write ?the necessary biography,? seemingly as a gesture of friendship. In the book?s preface, he explained that he was ?so little of a politician? that he could hardly ?call himself the member of any party.? As such, he was entirely unaccustomed to this brand of writing ?intended to operate on the minds of multitudes during a presidential canvass.? The book was merely the testimonial of a friend who had known the candidate at a formative period of life.

Yet the actual content of The Life of Franklin Pierce, and the spoils of victory that Hawthorne received for writing it, suggest other layers to the story. The book is a political biography as adept at aligning Pierce?s life story with the needs of the party as anything that could have come from the pen of a committed Democratic operative. And Hawthorne was acutely aware that, within the workings of 19th-century party politics, being serviceable to a victorious cause could come with handsome rewards in the form of a lucrative government office. When Pierce won, he gave his old friend a plush diplomatic post in England, but in the end, neither man proved better off for having taken their new job.

Writing a sympathetic life of Franklin Pierce was a tall order that would take every last bit of Hawthorne?s literary talent. Members of the opposition Whig Party raised a fair question when they chanted jubilantly, ?Who is Frank Pierce?? Pierce?s supporters had given him the hopeful moniker, ?Young Hickory of the Granite Hills,? but his accomplishments in life seemed a far cry from those of Andrew Jackson (?Old Hickory?), whom the name invoked. Though Pierce had served in the Congress and the Senate (being the youngest man yet elected to the latter body), he had hardly distinguished himself and had little reputation beyond his native New Hampshire. There, he had risen quickly in politics, in part through his charm, but mostly by virtue of being the son of Benjamin Pierce, a Revolutionary War hero and former governor of the state. Pierce had served in the recent Mexican-American War (1846-1848), but he had certainly not earned the glories of his opponent in the election, Gen. Winfield Scott.

Indeed, the uncertainty surrounding Pierce?s Mexican War record was a significant cause for concern. He had volunteered in 1846, and was soon promoted to the rank of brigadier general on the strength of his political stature and connections. To date, his military qualifications consisted of nothing more than a stint as the organizer and captain of the ?Bowdoin Cadets,? a college group he led in marching exercises across the quadrangle (and of which Hawthorne had briefly been a member).

Pierce?s lack of experience in battle quickly became apparent. In his brigade?s first engagement, his horse spooked at the sound of artillery fire and began bucking and rearing wildly. A strong kick of the back legs sent Pierce lurching forward into an awkward and blindingly painful pelvic encounter with the pommel of his saddle. The hero fainted and fell to the ground, only to have his horse fall on his knee and a subordinate allegedly call him a ?damned coward? when he didn?t get up. Unable to walk or ride, Pierce?s superiors ordered him to withdraw from action. He gallantly insisted on staying in the field, which he did until the next day, when he fainted again after wrenching his bad knee marching across marshy terrain. Pierce?s brigade was present for the climactic battle of Chapultepec, but Pierce himself was conspicuously absent, suffering terribly from Montezuma?s revenge in the sick ward.? ?

Source: http://feeds.slate.com/click.phdo?i=32622eb5f20ba787be5f274db542aa05

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