What's in a Name? It Really Doesn't Matter on New Coin by Peter Rexford on Creators.com

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What's in a Name? It Really Doesn't Matter on New Coin

In the movie, "The Rat Pack," one scene recreates a conversation between presidential candidate John F. Kennedy and major supporter Frank Sinatra. Kennedy was lamenting his concern about running against Hubert Humphrey. Sinatra's response was frank and pure Frank. "Jack," said Sinatra, "the American people will never elect someone named Hubert as president."

I recalled that this week with the issue of the latest coin in the Presidential Golden Dollar series. It salutes Millard Fillmore as our 13th president.

The popularity of names over time always ebbs and flows, so I can't really comment on the curiosity of a name such as "Millard." Maybe it was reasonably common back in the early 1800s when he was born. And though I've never met anyone named Millard, I have to admit it certainly hasn't vanished completely. In 1976, a man named Millard Fuller founded Habitat for Humanity International and led the altruistic organization through 2005. I doubt anyone questioned his name.

In fairness, take a look at some of the names of today's politicos. "Mitt," "Newt," "Tip" and "Barack" — to name a few — would surely raise eyebrows from those earlier politicians.

Name aside, Millard Fillmore had a tough and unexpected road to hoe, considering that he was vice president under Zachary Taylor. Like many vice presidents, Fillmore may have expected to coast under his title leaving the heavy lifting to Taylor. No such luck. Taylor died of cholera just months after assuming office, and Fillmore was thrust into the spotlight.

Fillmore assumed office at an arguably inopportune time. It was 1850 and tensions regarding slavery were running high. California was inducted as a free state, which infuriated Southerners. To appease them, Fillmore permitted laws that allowed escaped slaves, who had fled to free states, to be captured and returned to the South. That not only fanned the flames of the looming Civil War, but also led Northern state mobs to actively and violently free recaptured slaves so they couldn't be returned.

On the international front, Fillmore did gain something of a feather in his cap for a deal he struck with Peru.

He negotiated an agreement with the South American country to import a very curious byproduct. It seems that off the coast of Peru was a massive bird sanctuary. Naturally, where there are birds there are bird droppings. At that time, some considered the droppings to be a cheap form of agricultural fertilizer. Hence, Fillmore arranged for boatloads of bird poop to be purchased and shipped to the United States. Probably not the legacy most of us would want.

On the plus side, Fillmore grew up under meager means and forged his own road to the White House. Reportedly, he also was something of a stud. Queen Victoria was quoted as referring to Fillmore as the most handsome man she had ever met.

Fillmore's rather lackluster presidency led his party (the Whigs) to abandon him as a candidate during the next election. He did try again in 1856 under the banner of the "American Party," which was anti-Catholic and against many other things, but he didn't make the presidential cut. Fillmore retired to Buffalo, N.Y., where he was named the first chancellor of the State University of New York at Buffalo. He died in Buffalo at the age of 74 in 1874.

The new Millard Fillmore coin has officially been released and would be appearing in cash drawers throughout the country if anyone used them. Unlike Canada and Europe — which long ago discontinued their paper dollars and paper euros for coins — we just haven't seemed to get on board yet. My prediction is a switch to dollar coins by 2015. We'll wait and see.

Prior to all that, the Millard Fillmore dollar coins may be available at some local banks or directly from the U.S. Mint by calling 1-800-USA-MINT (872-6468) or via their website: www.usmint.gov.

During 2010, three more presidents — including Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan and Abraham Lincoln — will be honored on similar golden dollar coins.

Editor's Note: A JPEG visual of the new Millard Fillmore golden dollar coin has been sent with this column.

To find out more about Peter Rexford and to read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.