Franklin Pierce's presidency without losing his kid

[Thomas]

How would Franklin Pierce's presidency be different had his son survived the train accident prior to his inaguration

[Kingpoleon]

I don't know... Maybe he allies his administration with Sam Houston, John Bell, John Crittenden, Stephen Douglas, James Buchanan, and Horatio Seymour? It's his best shot at uniting the two wings, if you ask me.

[Mr. Smith]

How would Franklin Pierce's presidency be different had his son survived the train accident prior to his inaguration

Probably no different at all.

Barring some butterfly effect, everything else should be about the same. He still lets himself be controlled by Stephen Douglas, he still alienates everyone, he still gets "primaried" by Buchanan, etc.