Introduction: Remembering -- Leavening, 1786-1819 -- Hardening, 1820-1834 -- Messing, 1834-1840 -- Wooing, 1840-1844 -- Ministering, 1844-1848 -- Running, 1848-1853 -- Presiding, 1853-1868 -- Epilogue: Preserving -- Washington residences of James Buchanan and William Rufus King (1834-1853) -- Percentage correlation of roll call votes of James Buchanan with senators of the Bachelor's Mess, 23rd to 28th Congresses (1834-1844) -- Calendar of correspondence of James Buchanan / Harriet Lane Johnston and William Rufus King / Catherine Margaret Ellis (1837-1868.
Summary
"Politicians James Buchanan (1791-1868) of Pennsylvania and William Rufus King (1786-1853) of Alabama has excited much speculation through the years. Why did they never marry? Might they have been gay, or was their relationship a nineteenth-century version of the modern-day 'bromance'? Then, as now, they have intrigued by the many mysteries surrounding them. In Bosom Friends : the Intimate World of James Buchanan and William Rufus King, Thomas Balcerski explores the lives of these two politicians and discovers one of the most significant collaborations in American political history. Unlikely companions from the start, they lived together as messmates in a Washington, DC, boardinghouse. There developed a bosom friendship that blossomed into a significant political partnership. Before the Civil War, each man was elected to high executive office, William Rufus King the vice-presidency in 1852 and James Buchanan as the nation's fifteen president in 1856. This book offers a dual biography of James Buchanan and William Rufus King. Special attention is given to their early lives prior to elected office, the circumstances of their boardinghouse friendship, and the juicy political gossip that has circulated about them ever since. In addition, the author traces their many contributions to the Jacksonian political agenda, manifest destiny, and the debates over slavery, while finding their style of politics to have been disastrous for the American nation. Ultimately, Bosom Friends demonstrates that intimate male friendships among politicians were, and continue to be, an important part of success in American politics"-- Provided by publisher.
Papers from a conference held at LancasterHistory.org in 2008. Presentation copy from the editors.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Contents
Introduction: Bum rap or bad leadership? -- James Buchanan, Dred Scott, and the whisper of conspiracy / Paul Finkelman -- Prelude to armageddon: James Buchanan, Brigham Young, and a president's initiation to bloodshed / William P. MacKinnon -- General Jackson is dead: James Buchanan, Stephen A. Douglas, and Kansas policy / Nicole Etcheson -- In defense of doughface diplomacy: a reevaluation of the foreign policy of James Buchanan / John M. Belohlavek -- President James Buchanan: executive leadership and the crisis of the democracy / Michael A. Morrison -- The South has been wronged: James Buchanan and the secession crisis / Jean H. Baker -- "In the midst of a great revolution": the northern response to the secession crisis / William G. Shade -- Joseph Holt, James Buchanan, and the secession crisis / Daniel W. Crofts -- A conversation with William W. Freehling and Michael F. Holt, September 19, 2008 / Moderated by John W. Quist -- Epilogue: James Buchanan's Civil War / Michael J. Birkner.
Summary
An edited volume examining the presidency of James Buchanan and his role engaging the complexities of the debate surrounding the president immediately before Lincoln.
Presents a biography of James Buchanan's niece who was the White House hostess during her uncle's presidency, helped create the National Gallery of Art, and started the first pediatrics hospital.
The opinion of the Supreme Court of the United States : on the act of the 3d, of April 1792, delivered in February term, 1805, in the case of the lessee of H.I. Huidekoper vs. James Douglass : after argument on questions stated by the Circuit Court of the United States, in and for the Pennsylvania district of the Third Circuit, for the judgement and decision of the Supreme Court
A study was made of the wood in the log cabin which is said to be the birthplace of President James Buchanan. Since there is no proof that he was born in that particular cabin, the researchers wished to know if this cabin could have been his birthplace. They concluded that the " largest portion of the cabin beam samples were cut at or before 1785, six years before the birth of President Buchanan." This showed that the cabin existed at the time of his birth.
Report of the trial of the Hon. Samuel Chase : one of the associate justices of the Supreme Court of the United States, before the High Court of Impeachment, composed of the Senate of the United States, for charges exhibited against him by the House of Representatives, in the name of themselves, and of all the people of the United States for high crimes nd misdemeanors, supposed to have been by him committed : with the necessary documents and official papers, from his impeachment to final acquittal
Pages 50-51 omitted in numbering; p. 205-212 repeated; extra numbered p. 101*-112*, 212* (i.e. 213*)-230*, 237*-244*.
"Appendix. Impeachment of the Hon. Samuel Chase, with the articles exhibited against him by the House of Representatives; also his answer and pleas, exhibits, and the replication of the House of Representatives, &c. &c.": 68 p. at end, with separate title page.
Trial January 2-March 1, 1805, for alleged misdemeanors in the political trials of Fries and Callender.--cf. Sabin, Dictionary of books relating to America.
v. 1. The cases from the beginning of Easter term, 1802 to the end of Easter term, 1804 -- v. 2. The cases from the beginning of Trinity term, 1804 to the period of Lord Redesdale's resignation of the Great Seal [i.e. 1807].
Forensic eloquence. : Sketches of trials in Ireland for high treason, etc. : Including the speeches of Mr. Curran at length: accompanied by certain papers illustrating the history and present state of that country. : [Two lines in Latin]
"Mr. O'Connor's address to the Irish nation."--Page 323-326.
"To the reader."--Page [327].
"Mr. Grattan's letter to the citizens of Dublin, on his declining to represent them in Parliament."--Page 328-351.
"Erratum"--Page 351.
"In the press, a collection of the most approved speeches and orations selected from English, Scotch, Irish, and American authors. With biographical anecdotes."--Page [352].
