Taylor Administration - Taylor's Advisers
Taylor's Advisers
Knowing few politicians personally and having little or no experience in the political arena, Taylor was handicapped when he assumed the presidency. He abhorred the spoils system (honoring those faithful to the party with plum jobs in the administration) and so made his cabinet selections based on merit rather than patronage. This alienated many party regulars; however, Taylor was not bothered by this circumstance when he first took office. He believed that domestic issues were primarily the responsibility of the legislature. Later it would prove problematic as he tried to resolve sectional differences between the North and the South.
Taylor picked a leading Whig senator, John M. Clayton of Delaware, for secretary of state; Clayton advised Taylor on further cabinet nominees. Clayton's major contribution to the Taylor administration was the successful negotiation of the Clayton-Bulwer Treaty with Great Britain...
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