For President, Leland Stanford
A short story about a man named Leland Stanford who becomes the President of the United States after a series of unexpected events. The story explores themes of ambition, power, and the consequences of one's actions.
By Ambrose Bierce · First published 1872 · Genre: Biography, Political, Non-fiction · 342 words
First lines
Mahomet Stanford, with covetous stare, Gazed on a vision surpassingly fair: Far on the desert's remote extreme A mountain of gold with a mellow gleam Reared its high pinnacles into the sky, The work of "mirage" to delude the eye.
Pixley Pasha, at the Prophet's feet Piously licking them, swearing them sweet, Ventured, observing his master's glance, To beg that he order the mountain's advance.
What this Textopian page supports
For President, Leland Stanford is listed on Textopian as a short story by Ambrose Bierce, dated 1872 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Ambrose Bierce
- Date: 1872 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Biography, Political, Non-fiction, History
- Length: 342 words
- Structure: 1 section, 7 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for For President, Leland Stanford by Ambrose Bierce
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering For President, Leland Stanford?
- How does this short story by Ambrose Bierce fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Biography first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Biography — The book focuses on the life of Leland Stanford, a prominent historical figure, indicating it is a biographical work.
- Political — Given Leland Stanford's political career, including his time as a senator and governor, and the title itself, this book fits the political genre.
- Non-fiction — Leland Stanford is a factual person who existed in history, validating the non-fiction genre.
- History — Leland Stanford's contributions significantly influenced the course of American history, particularly the construction of the transcontinental railroad, marking this as a historical genre.
Tags
political satire · humor · fiction · short story · presidential election · Leland Stanford · California history · gold rush · western · victorian era · literary fiction · classic literature