James Buchanan: The American Presidents Series: The 15th President, 1857-1861
Publisher: Times Books, June 7, 2004.
Edition: First
Book Condition: New
Binding: Hardcover
ISBN: 0805069461 / 9780805069464
A provocative reconsideration of a presidency on the brink of Civil War.
Few presidents were as well trained and prepared for office as James Buchanan. He had served in the Pennsylvania state legislature, the U.S. House, and the U.S. Senate; he was Secretary of State and was even offered a seat on the Supreme Court. And yet, by every measure except his own, James Buchanan was a miserable failure as president, leaving office in disgrace. Virtually all of his intentions were thwarted by his own inability to compromise: he had been unable to resolve issues of slavery, caused his party to split-thereby ensuring the election of the first Republican president, Abraham Lincoln-and made the Civil War all but inevitable.
Historian Jean H. Baker explains that we have rightly placed Buchanan at the end of the presidential rankings, but his poor presidency should not excuse us from remembering him. To study Buchanan is to consider the implications of weak leadership in a time of national crisis. Elegantly written, Baker's volume offers a balanced look at a crucial moment in our nation's history and explores a man who, when given the opportunity, failed to rise to the challenge.
Review
"A publishing milestone . . . Schlesinger, a master craftsman, is imposing his high standards on these books. Hail to the chief. It's a wonderful series."
―Chicago Sun-Times
"Richly documented."
―Publishers Weekly
About the Author
Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. (1917-2007) was the preeminent political historian of our time. For more than half a century, he was a cornerstone of the nation's intellectual life and a fixture on the political scene. He won two Pulitzer Prizes for The Age of Jackson (1946) and A Thousand Days (1966), and received the National Humanities Medal in 1988. He published the first volume of his autobiography, A Life in the Twentieth Century, in 2000.
Price: $14.97