Taylor was president for a mere 16 months. Some historians speculate that he would have been a strong, effective president. How his presidency might have turned out is uncertain. But Taylor was fiercely loyal to the Union. He was prepared to stand up to Texans planning to invade New Mexico. He would probably have vetoed the controversial Compromise of 1850. Whether he could have prevented the Civil War is an open question. Still, Taylor's brief tenure did not damage the presidency or the nation.
