I always thought Pierce had a jeri curl.

Like Buchanan, he did nothing to prevent the Civil War. An indecisive leader who was unwilling to take a stand.

A virtually inept President arguably describes Franklin Pierce. A dark-horse candidate of the Democratic Party in 1852, Pierce was perceived as the best candidate to appease the south (as he was from New Hampshire). Unfortunately, he was unable to bring a divided nation together. Pierce was a student of Manifest Destiny and sought to bring in Cuba to be a United States territory. But Pierce was indecisive with the question of slavery, hinting at his pro-slavery stance- which became totally evident during the Civil War. Beaten at the 1856 Democratic convention by James Buchanan, he retired to New Hampshire. However, if a legacy of a President continues after his Presidency, Pierce was amongst the worst Presidents ever as he virtually lent his support for slavery's extension- going as far as criticizing President Abraham Lincoln's policies. His writings, furthermore, became erratic and embittering- spewing pro-Southern sympathies, and denouncing local and national abolitionists, as well Union forces themselves. Hated by most of his fellow countrymen at the end of his life, Pierce had truly tainted himself- and justly been accorded by historians as an immense failure.

He did make some pretty idiotic decisions, but I'll also mention that he was helped by Stepheb Douglas and Jefferson Davis in those idiotic decisions.

He apparently had the chance to stop the Civil War about 20 years beforehand but didn't. North-South relations might be a whole lot better even now if he had done something, anything.

Why is he considered an idiot? Because most Americans have never heard of him?