NH's Primary Not Only First in National Politics

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In Concord?s Old North Cemetery yesterday, the governor?s Horse Guards dressed in Civil War-vintage uniforms. They fired replicas of century-old cavalry carbines to salute the former president who had commanded those horse guards in 1859.

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A military honor guard laid a wreath at Pierce?s grave. The laurel wreath studded with flowers came from President Bush. The scent of roses filled the air before the tall granite obelisk.

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Colonel Deborah Carter of the Air National Guard told Walker School students about Pierce?s record as a Democratic politician and lawyer.

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In 1846, Franklin Pierce began a new chapter and enlisted in the military as a private, advancing to brigadier general and serving with distinction in the Mexican war. Two years later, he returned from war. Four years later he was elected president, serving between 1852 and 1856.

These were the years before the Civil War. Slavery was legal and America was divided. Historians usually view Pierce?s role harshly. They say that his pro-Southern policies antagonized both sides and brought war closer.

But historians have overlooked Pierce?s role in political history. Newly uncovered documents identify Pierce as a founder of the political convention.

Until 1832, presidential nominees were picked by congressional party caucuses.

The incumbent president, Andrew Jackson, enjoyed great popularity. But he faced congressional opposition to his choice of Martin Van Buren as vice president.

Congressional Democrats wanted to keep John C. Calhoun.

At that time Franklin Pierce was the 26-year-old speaker of the New Hampshire House, the youngest in history. Pierce, speaking for Jackson allies, organized a state convention in what is now Concord?s Eagle Hotel.
The urged the other 23 states to hold a national nominating convention.

It was held in Baltimore, and Jackson got the vice president he wanted.

The Pierce documents were found by Secretary of State Bill Gardner:

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So the proposal that New Hampshire came up with was an attempt to broaden the process, knowing that by broadening the process they would be helping the candidate they supported, which was Andrew Jackson.

That was the first nominating convention. Presidents were selected by this method well into the 20th century. Primaries, not party leaders, elect today?s delegates, but the convention itself survives. Bill Gardner:

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That convention was followed four years later, and eight years later, and 12 years later, by successive conventions in Baltimore, and in 1852, 20 years later, our own Franklin Pierce was nominated in Baltimore, at a convention that was very similar to the convention 20 years earlier that had been organized by New Hampshire and by Franklin Pierce.

New Hampshire has long been considered the state with the first-in-the-nation primary. Gardner?s discovery gives New Hampshire a claim on organizing the first-in-the-nation political convention.

For NHPR News, this is John Milne.