A review by cstuart13
James Buchanan by Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., Jean H. Baker

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