Reason to celebrate -- Young man of Pennsylvania -- A life in politics -- Honors at home and abroad -- A run for the White House -- Conflicts and controversies -- Bleeding Kansas and John Brown -- A nation divided -- Taking the blame -- Glossary -- James Buchanan's life at a glance -- James Buchanan's life and times -- World events -- Understanding James Buchanan and his presidency better.
Summary
A biography of the fifteenth president of the United States, discussing his personal life, education, and political career.
Introducing the worst. President. Ever -- The Young Buck -- Up from Lancaster -- The man who would be president, again and again -- The election of 1856: the most consequential in American history -- The worst presidency begins -- The middle Buchanan presidency: hardly better -- Mr. Buchanan's War -- The legacy of the least of the lesser presidents.
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.
v. 1. Annual message of the President ; Report of the Secretary of the Interior ; Report of the Secretary of War ; Report of the Secretary of the Navy ; Report of the Postmaster-General -- v. 2. Report of the Secretary of War --
