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James Buchanan: The American Presidents Series: The 15th President, 1857-1861 by Jean H. Baker
alexrobinsonsupergenius's review
4.0
Another good entry in this series of short presidential biographies, this one on the much maligned James Buchanan. There's a tendency to view Buchanan as a doddering, indecisive Jimmy Carter figure but this book argues that this was not the case, that Buchanan's actions (his blinding devotion to the South, doing nothing to stop the Confederacy prepare for treason, etc) actively set the stage for the Civil War. Worse than Nixon!
littletaiko's review
3.0
Widely hailed as the worst president ever, it's tempting to feel a bit sorry for the man except he probably does deserve the title. His siding with the south regarding slavery alienated so many people, the northern states where he was from, his whole political party, and the territory of Kansas as they tried to join the nation. He may have fared better if he had been president at a different time when he could focus on foreign policy, but he was elected when domestic issues dominated the agenda. Interesting and brief look at this life and presidency.
readermeginco's review
4.0
This line from the book sums it all up, I think: "Buchanan makes up the third member of that feckless triumvirate of antebellum presidential losers, along with Millard Fillmore and Franklin Pierce. But more failed even than they..."
The author went into this biography saying, " this guy was the worst. So, now, let's look at why." And he does a great job making his case. It isn't filled with too much speculation about what could have been. Instead, he clearly lays out his case. Clearly, Buchanan made one bad decision after the next. I would actually re-read this one and would give it a 4.25 (maybe even 4.5?) star rating.
The author went into this biography saying, " this guy was the worst. So, now, let's look at why." And he does a great job making his case. It isn't filled with too much speculation about what could have been. Instead, he clearly lays out his case. Clearly, Buchanan made one bad decision after the next. I would actually re-read this one and would give it a 4.25 (maybe even 4.5?) star rating.
epersonae's review
4.0
I picked this up after reading a blog entry that claimed that Bush couldn't be called the worst president ever as long as there was Buchanan.
And I think the guy had a point, although it may be that only the existence of the slavery problem made that so. (Ie, a problem so huge that it was already tearing the country in two before Buchanan ever got there; except for 9/11, Bush seems to have manufactured all this sh*t himself.)
Because otherwise, the failings of the 2 administrations feel quite similar. In particular, a blind devotion to a particular ideology and to particular advisers. (Neocons = Southerners?)
Sometimes he seems to have acted beyond his own perceived limitations (in re: Kansas -- the section on the statehood battle was fascinating), and in other moments chosen not to act and let let things get substantially worse, esp with the situation in South Carolina after the 1860 election.
Apparently the usual judgment is that he dithered, but this author thinks it was more deliberate than that, a choice not to act because his sympathies were essentially traitorous. (Holy moly!) She makes a decent case, I think, highlighting his behavior throughout his life in public service. It's one of those stories that almost automatically draws out the "what if." And it's a sad, sad story, ultimately, both for Buchanan himself and for our country.
The book is also a very quick and lively read! Well worth a couple of afternoons.
And I think the guy had a point, although it may be that only the existence of the slavery problem made that so. (Ie, a problem so huge that it was already tearing the country in two before Buchanan ever got there; except for 9/11, Bush seems to have manufactured all this sh*t himself.)
Because otherwise, the failings of the 2 administrations feel quite similar. In particular, a blind devotion to a particular ideology and to particular advisers. (Neocons = Southerners?)
Sometimes he seems to have acted beyond his own perceived limitations (in re: Kansas -- the section on the statehood battle was fascinating), and in other moments chosen not to act and let let things get substantially worse, esp with the situation in South Carolina after the 1860 election.
Apparently the usual judgment is that he dithered, but this author thinks it was more deliberate than that, a choice not to act because his sympathies were essentially traitorous. (Holy moly!) She makes a decent case, I think, highlighting his behavior throughout his life in public service. It's one of those stories that almost automatically draws out the "what if." And it's a sad, sad story, ultimately, both for Buchanan himself and for our country.
The book is also a very quick and lively read! Well worth a couple of afternoons.
grimhand's review
3.0
An acceptable, if at times poorly footnoted, overview of Buchanan’s presidency. OK for a quick introduction or review.
slcpolitico's review
4.0
Out of the three American Presidents Series books that I read in a row, this was the best one. Jean Baker did a good job at analyzing the reason Buchanan did a horrible job as president. I think the afterword is what brought the book from a three to four star rating.