By no means was Franklin Pierce the worse president this country ever had. That honour must go to James Buchanan, the man AFTER Pierce. (By the way, Pierce was a Democrat). Pierce opened up trade with Japan, finished purchasing the continental United States, purchasing southern New Mexico and parts of Arizona. Bleeding Kansas was horrible, granted, but I hardly think that should cause him to be the worst...at least HE preserved the Union, unlike good ole' Old Buck.