Today’s American Minute

Millard Fillmore became the 13th president this day, July 10, 1850, when president Zachary Taylor died unexpectedly. He was remembered for sending Commodore Perry to open trade with Japan, admitting California, which had just begun the Gold Rush, into the Union as a free state, and when the Library of Congress caught on fire, he and his Cabinet formed a bucket brigade to help extinguish the flames. After being sworn into office, President Fillmore addressed Congress: “I dare not shrink … I rely upon Him who holds in His hands the destinies of nations to endow me with … strength for the task.”

Bill Federer

William J. Federer is the author of "Change to Chains: The 6,000 Year Quest for Global Control" and "What Every American Needs to Know About the Quran: A History of Islam and the United States." Read more of Bill Federer's articles here.