Zachary Taylor: the record and the legends

Old Rough and Ready. The 12th president, 1849-1850, from Louisiana. Every story here is tagged Record, meaning it’s documented, or Legend, meaning it gets told a lot and doesn’t hold up. Each one links to its source.

President: 12th
In office: 1849-1850
Home state: Louisiana
Party: Whig
Height: 5'8"

The record

RecordAt Buena Vista in 1847, Taylor's army of about 6,000 faced nearly 20,000 under Santa Anna. He stayed on his horse, Old Whitey, in the middle of the fire, steadying his men, and they held.Source: White House Historical Association, Zachary Taylor
RecordHe got the nickname Old Rough and Ready by living like his soldiers: plain clothes, a beat-up straw hat, no airs at all.Source: White House Historical Association, Zachary Taylor
RecordOld Whitey, the horse that carried him through the Mexican War, came along to Washington and spent his retirement on the White House grounds.Source: White House Historical Association, Notable Horses
RecordTaylor was the first president who had never held any elected office. He had never even voted in a presidential election until 1848, when he was the one running.Source: Miller Center, The General Election: Zachary Taylor (1848)

The legends

LegendYou'll read that Taylor rode into battle sidesaddle because his legs were short. It gets repeated a lot, but no museum or archive backs it up.Source: Miller Center, Taylor: Life Before the Presidency

What he cared about

Letting California and New Mexico decide on slavery themselves, by writing state constitutions and skipping the territory stage.
Keeping the Union together when Southern states threatened to leave.
A cabinet drawn from every region, not career Washington insiders.

The full record

Taylor enslaved people his whole adult life, kept running his Mississippi plantation from the White House, and left about 131 enslaved people to his heirs in his will.

How he fights in POTUS KO

Frontier army grit

Taylor won by holding ground nobody thought he could hold. At Buena Vista he was outnumbered about three to one and stayed put. In the ring he plants his feet and outlasts you.

See POTUS KO

Questions about Zachary Taylor

Why was Zachary Taylor called Old Rough and Ready?

He got the nickname Old Rough and Ready by living like his soldiers: plain clothes, a beat-up straw hat, no airs at all.

Did Zachary Taylor ride sidesaddle?

You'll read that Taylor rode into battle sidesaddle because his legs were short. It gets repeated a lot, but no museum or archive backs it up.

Had Zachary Taylor ever voted before he became president?

Taylor was the first president who had never held any elected office. He had never even voted in a presidential election until 1848, when he was the one running.