James Buchanan – 15th President – Legends of America
Alright, history buffs, let’s dive into the story of James Buchanan, the 15th President of the United States. Now, Buchanan’s got a bit of a reputation, and not necessarily a good one. He’s often seen as the guy who was at the helm right before the Civil War exploded, and, well, didn’t exactly steer the ship in the right direction. Fun fact: he’s the only president from Pennsylvania until Joe Biden and he never got married.
From Log Cabin to Lancaster Lawyer
James Buchanan Jr. entered the world in 1791, born in a humble log cabin in Cove Gap, Pennsylvania. His folks, James Sr. and Elizabeth, were Scotch-Irish through and through. Dad had hopped over from Ireland a few years prior. The Buchanan family didn’t stay put for long, moving to a farm and then into the town of Mercersburg. Dad became a big shot there, making his fortune as a merchant, farmer, and real estate guru.
Young James got his education at the Old Stone Academy and then Dickinson College. He almost got the boot for being a bit of a troublemaker, but he begged for another chance and managed to graduate with honors at the ripe old age of 18. Not long after, he moved to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to study law under a well-known attorney named James Hopkins. Turns out, Buchanan was a natural debater and was admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 1812. He planted his roots in Lancaster, making it his home for life. When the War of 1812 rolled around, he joined the defense of Baltimore as a volunteer soldier, though he never saw any action. Interestingly, he was the only president with military experience who wasn’t an officer.
After the war, Buchanan went back to law, and business boomed. By 1821, he was raking in over $11,000 a year – a fortune back then! He tackled all sorts of cases, including a high-profile impeachment trial where he successfully defended a Pennsylvania judge.
Politics Beckons
Buchanan’s political career started with the Federalist Party. He got elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in 1814 and 1815. The legislature only met for a few months each year, but it helped him drum up even more clients. He was all about federally funded improvements, high tariffs, and a national bank. During the War of 1812, he was pretty critical of President James Madison, a Democratic-Republican.
In 1820, he headed to Congress as a representative for the Lancaster District, staying there until 1831 through reelection. He quickly became known as a smart and hardworking member of the House, eventually chairing the Judiciary Committee. In 1831, President Andrew Jackson appointed him as the American minister to Russia, a post he held for two years. When he came back in 1833, the Pennsylvania Legislature sent him to the U.S. Senate.
Buchanan spent 12 years in the Senate, becoming a leader of the Democratic party. He was a firm believer in minimizing federal government involvement and supporting the rights of slaveholders. In fact, he was adamantly against any talk about slavery in Congress.
From 1845 to 1849, he served as Secretary of State under President James Polk, playing a key role in shaping the president’s policies during the Mexican-American War.
After Polk’s term, Buchanan took a break from politics until 1853, when President Franklin Pierce appointed him as Minister to Great Britain. During this time, he suggested a meeting of American ministers in Europe, which led to the Ostend Manifesto. This document, which discussed the potential purchase or seizure of Cuba, is now considered a dark mark on American diplomacy. However, being abroad helped Buchanan avoid the heated debates at home, paving the way for his Democratic nomination in 1856.
The Presidency and the Impending Storm
As President-elect, Buchanan naively thought he could calm the storm brewing over slavery by keeping things balanced in his appointments and getting everyone to accept the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Constitution. He was hoping the Supreme Court would settle the issue of slavery in the territories once and for all.
In his Inaugural Address in 1857, Buchanan said the territorial question was "happily, a matter of but little practical importance," because the Supreme Court was about to settle it "speedily and finally." Two days later, Chief Justice Roger B. Taney delivered the Dred Scott decision, which said Congress couldn’t stop people from owning slaves in the territories. The South was thrilled, but the North was furious.
Buchanan’s presidency was marked by intense debate over slavery, which eventually led to violence in Kansas. He was a tall, dignified man who seemed out of touch with the political realities of the time. He thought constitutional arguments would be enough to bridge the divide over slavery, but he didn’t realize the North wouldn’t accept anything that favored the South. He also failed to grasp how sectionalism had reshaped the political landscape, splitting the Democrats, destroying the Whigs, and giving rise to the Republicans.
Buchanan tried to resolve the conflict in Kansas by pushing for its admission as a slave state. This only angered Republicans and alienated members of his own party, and Kansas remained a territory.
By 1858, Republicans had won a majority in the House, but every bill they passed was blocked by Southern votes in the Senate or by a Presidential veto. The Federal Government was stuck in a stalemate.
In 1860, tensions were so high that the Democratic Party split into northern and southern factions, each nominating their own candidate for President. When the Republicans nominated Abraham Lincoln, it was almost certain he would win, even though his name wasn’t on the ballot in the South.
Southern leaders began preparing for rebellion. The Civil War broke out in the winter of 1860-61, before Buchanan’s term ended. Buchanan was hesitant and uncertain. He said states didn’t have the right to secede, but he also believed the Federal Government couldn’t legally stop them. He hoped for a compromise, but secessionist leaders weren’t interested.
Eventually, Buchanan took a stronger stance. He appointed northerners to his Cabinet and sent the Star of the West to reinforce Fort Sumter in South Carolina. However, the ship never arrived, and Buchanan returned to his policy of inaction until he left office.
Retirement and Legacy
In March 1861, Buchanan retired to his home in Pennsylvania, leaving the daunting task of resolving the nation’s crisis to his successor.
The Civil War started just two months after Buchanan left office. He supported the Union, writing to former colleagues that "the assault upon Sumter was the commencement of war by the Confederate states, and no alternative was left but to prosecute it with vigor on our part."
However, Buchanan spent much of his retirement defending his actions leading up to the Civil War, which some called "Buchanan’s War." He received threatening letters daily and was often accused of being a traitor. The Senate even considered a resolution condemning him, though it ultimately failed. Newspapers accused him of colluding with the Confederacy.
Distraught by the attacks, Buchanan became ill and depressed. He wrote his memoirs, published in 1866, to defend his actions.
Shortly after his book came out, Buchanan caught a cold in May 1868, which quickly worsened due to his age. He died of respiratory failure at his home on June 1, 1868, at the age of 77. He was buried in Woodward Hill Cemetery in Lancaster.
Buchanan never married and was known as a courteous gentleman and a good citizen in his personal life. He was the last president born in the 18th century.
Although Buchanan predicted that "history will vindicate my memory," historians have consistently criticized him for his failure to act decisively in the face of secession. He is generally ranked as one of the least successful presidents in U.S. history.