An available candidate--the one qualification for a Whig pre

An available candidate--the one qualification for a Whig president. Political cartoon showing man in military uniform, with epaulets and plumed hat, holding sword and seated on pile of skulls. A scathing attack on Whig principles, as embodied in their selection of a presidential candidate for 1848. Here the available candidate is either Gen. Zachary Taylor or Winfield Scott, both of whom were contenders for the nomination before the June convention. The figure sits atop a pyramid of skulls, holding a blood-stained sword. The skulls and sword allude to the bloody but successful Mexican War campaigns waged by both Taylor and Scott, which earned them considerable popularity (a combination of attractiveness and credibility termed availability) among Whigs. The figure here has traditionally been identified as Taylor, but the flamboyant, plumed military hat and uniform are more in keeping with contemporary representations of Scott. The print may have appeared during the ground swell of popular support which arose for Scott as a rival to Zachary Taylor in the few months preceding the party's convention in Philadelphia on June 7, 1848. On June 9 Zachary Taylor captured the Whig nomination. Date 1848. An available candidate--the one qualification for a Whig president. Political cartoon showing man in military uniform, with epaulets and plumed hat, holding sword and seated on pile of skulls. A scathing attack on Whig principles, as embodied in their selection of a presidential candidate for 1848. Here the available candidate is either Gen. Zachary Taylor or Winfield Scott, both of whom were contenders for the nomination before the June convention. The figure sits atop a pyramid of skulls, holding a blood-stained sword. The skulls and sword allude to the bloody but successful Mexican War campaigns waged by both Taylor and Scott, which earned them considerable popularity (a combination of attractiveness and credibility termed availability) among Whigs. The figure here has traditionally been identified as Taylor, but the flamboyant, plumed military hat and uniform are more in keeping with contemporary representations of Scott. The print may have appeared during the ground swell of popular support which arose for Scott as a rival to Zachary Taylor in the few months preceding the party's convention in Philadelphia on June 7, 1848. On June 9 Zachary Taylor captured the Whig nomination. Date 1848

Appeared Arose Atop Attractiveness Availability Available Campaigns Combination Considerable Contenders Credibility Earned Either Embodied Epaulets Flamboyant Identified Keeping Nomination Pile Plumed Popularity Preceding Principles Pyramid Qualification Representations Rival Scathing Selection Skulls Swell Termed Traditionally Waged Whig Whigs Whom Winfield Zachary

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