I have to question his view on Taylor. First, ranking someone at 7th based on what they might have done is questionable at best. He also assumes that Taylor’s wishes regarding California and New Mexico would have been met, and that adding those states would have quickly led to an amendment banning slavery. Both are fairly large leaps. Finally, I do not believe an amendment banning slavery would have prevented the Civil War.
I have to agree with you on Taylor. Yes, he had some great ideas, but they never came to fruition. You, I, and millions of other Americans have great ideas about how to fix the problems plaguing our nation, but if they do not come to pass, then they remain nothing but ideas.