Scan barcode
cstuart13's review
4.0
Buchanan was the worst and most incompetent president I have read about so far. The author seems to place many of his failings on his bachelorhood. I think that is a unique perspective but seems an awkward position to take. My assessment Buchanan saw black people as property and thus there was no motivation in his heart to oppose any “property” claims of the Southern states.
Now on to Lincoln—a much longer book which will take me much longer to read than the biographies of these last several forgettable presidents.
Reading the presidential biographies update:
1. George Washington: "Washington: A Life" by Ron Chernow
2. John Adams: "John Adams" by David McCullough
3. Thomas Jefferson: "American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson" by Joseph Ellis
4. James Madison: "James Madison: A Life Reconsidered" by Lynne Cheney
5. James Monroe: "The Last Founding Father: James Monroe" by Harlow Unger
6. John Quincy Adams: "John Quincy Adams: A Public Life, A Private Life" by Paul Nagel
7. Andrew Jackson: "Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times" by H.W. Brands
8: Martin Van Buren: "Martin Van Buren" by Ted Widmer
9. William Henry Harrison: “William Henry Harrison” by Gail Collins
10. John Tyler: "John Tyler" by Gary May
11. James K. Polk: "A Country of Vast Designs" by Robert W. Merry
12. Zachary Taylor: “Zachary Taylor” by John S.D. Eisenhower
13. Millard Fillmore: “Millard Fillmore: Biography of A President” by Robert J. Rayback
14. Franklin Pierce: “Franklin Pierce” by Michael F. Holt
15. James Buchanan: “James Buchanan” by Jean Baker
Now on to Lincoln—a much longer book which will take me much longer to read than the biographies of these last several forgettable presidents.
Reading the presidential biographies update:
1. George Washington: "Washington: A Life" by Ron Chernow
2. John Adams: "John Adams" by David McCullough
3. Thomas Jefferson: "American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson" by Joseph Ellis
4. James Madison: "James Madison: A Life Reconsidered" by Lynne Cheney
5. James Monroe: "The Last Founding Father: James Monroe" by Harlow Unger
6. John Quincy Adams: "John Quincy Adams: A Public Life, A Private Life" by Paul Nagel
7. Andrew Jackson: "Andrew Jackson: His Life and Times" by H.W. Brands
8: Martin Van Buren: "Martin Van Buren" by Ted Widmer
9. William Henry Harrison: “William Henry Harrison” by Gail Collins
10. John Tyler: "John Tyler" by Gary May
11. James K. Polk: "A Country of Vast Designs" by Robert W. Merry
12. Zachary Taylor: “Zachary Taylor” by John S.D. Eisenhower
13. Millard Fillmore: “Millard Fillmore: Biography of A President” by Robert J. Rayback
14. Franklin Pierce: “Franklin Pierce” by Michael F. Holt
15. James Buchanan: “James Buchanan” by Jean Baker
toitoine's review
4.0
James Buchanan is widely perceived as the worst US President in history. Although he had the best resume for the job before his election (Secretary of State, Minister to Russia then to the UK, long-time Congressman), he managed to fail most if not all of what he did in office. Jean H. Baker makes a good point in looking for reasons for those failures: how can a man so attached to the Union drive it to the point of disintegration? Of course, he cannot be held the sole responsible for the Civil War but his actions were so divisive, so pro-Southern (which led him to be a 'doughface' in his home state of PA) that it feels as if he almost did not care about the Union.
Baker gives three reasons for this failure. Buchanan wanted to be his own president and closed himself to advice, even from his own cabinet (one of the most corrupt in US history). He also completely underestimated the size of issues, like his participation in the Ostende Manifesto and the consequences of his presidential actions. The effects were particularly disastrous during the Bleeding Kansas fallout. Eventually, he also closed himself from Northern states, belittling their opinions and ignoring their calls for action on slavery and other matters. The division of the Democratic Party because of this was one of the great drives towards Civil War.
Until the end of his life, Buchanan defended his time in the White House, looking for people to hold responsible while exempting himself. Jean H. Baker gives a very interesting recollection of those events with the historian eye for analysis. There is judgment (how could there not be) but just enough to make for a rather neutral and very well-researched biography.
Baker gives three reasons for this failure. Buchanan wanted to be his own president and closed himself to advice, even from his own cabinet (one of the most corrupt in US history). He also completely underestimated the size of issues, like his participation in the Ostende Manifesto and the consequences of his presidential actions. The effects were particularly disastrous during the Bleeding Kansas fallout. Eventually, he also closed himself from Northern states, belittling their opinions and ignoring their calls for action on slavery and other matters. The division of the Democratic Party because of this was one of the great drives towards Civil War.
Until the end of his life, Buchanan defended his time in the White House, looking for people to hold responsible while exempting himself. Jean H. Baker gives a very interesting recollection of those events with the historian eye for analysis. There is judgment (how could there not be) but just enough to make for a rather neutral and very well-researched biography.
alanfederman's review
3.0
I like "The American Presidents" series for some of the lesser 19th century presidents - they are in depth enough to get a flavor of the person but not so detailed that the reader is lost in the minutae. However, I would have liked more on Buchanan. One could make a case that he really was our worst president ever, but prior to holding office he had quite a resume (Senator, Secretary of State), and one could also argue that the way he bungled the Kansas issue and the initial secession that happened under his watch led the Civil War itself. Of course many people are responsible, but boy did he bungle it big time! And he was pretty corrupt as a president as well. Not America's finest hour for sure.
More...