Samuel Griswold Goodrich's most famous literary creation was "Peter Parley," a garrulous old man who told generations of young readers about the world around them. Though Goodrich was a sometime politician (he belonged to the Whig party), he never ran for president. Parley, however, was nominated for election in 1852, by the editor of The Youth's Casket. (He didn't win.)

http://www.merrycoz.org/casket/POLITICS.HTM

POLITICS (from The Youth's Casket, October 1852, p. 164)

It is not the object of the CasketCasket amount to about this: the greatest amount of real happiness to the whole juvenile family; and as, in our opinion, the candidates at present nominated for the presidency, by all parties, scarcely so much as think of the young folks, in their political designs, and as the young make up so large and important a class in community, we think some one should be selected who will faithfully represent them; in short, that there should be a "young people's" candidate; and so, with the approval of all whom we have yet consulted, we nominate

PETER PARLEY

as the children's candidate for the presidency in 1853, and expect from them a full and triumphant vote in his favor. We could give many reasons why he should be elected, but he is too well known to make it necessary.--Every one knows "Peter Parley." Three cheers for the Children's Candidate!


Copyright 2008, Pat Pflieger
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