Book Review: James Buchanan (American Presidents Series) by Jean Baker
James Buchanan consistently is ranked among the worst American Presidents, and in the 2004 American Presidents Series volume about Buchanan's presidency, historian Jean Baker carefully analyzes the reasons why Buchanan is deserving of his low ranking. In this concise (152 page) and intelligent analysis (all of the books in this series are of this length), Baker traces Buchanan's life from his upbringing, his early career as a lawyer and politician, his tenure as Secretary of State, and his runs at the presidency before embarking on a careful analysis of the most pressing issues of the Buchanan presidency.
Baker's analysis of Buchanan's presidency focuses on some of the biggest challenges he faced, including the conflict between the pro- and anti-slavery governments in Kansas. The last section of the book focuses on the final months of the Buchanan presidency, when trouble erupted in South Carolina, leading to the secession of a number of southern states, and ultimately to the civil war. Baker points out how Buchanan entered the presidency as well-prepared as any chief executive. So what went wrong? Baker dispels the myth that Buchanan was weak and indecisive, and makes the case for her subject's real shortcomings. In spite of Buchanan's Pennsylvania roots, Baker explains how Buchanan had strong pro-southern sympathies and sentiments, and how he was out of step with his times on the issue of slavery. When the south moved towards succession, Buchanan responded with rhetoric instead of action, not wanting to offend his favorite constituency. Under the president's nose, the southern members of his cabinet readied themselves for what was to come by sending weapons and other supplies to their home states.
Baker compares previous analyses of the Buchanan administration, including Buchanan's own post-mortem of his time in office. In a careful examination of the various theories of why Buchanan did nothing while the nation disintegrated, Baker challenges the competing theories that Buchanan was a strict constitutionalist or a do-nothing ditherer. She makes a compelling case that Buchanan was "an intellectual and electoral hostage" to the South, and how he let ideology trump pragmatism. Baker provides both an excellent analysis of the Buchanan presidency, and showcases her own brilliance in the process.
Baker's analysis of Buchanan's presidency focuses on some of the biggest challenges he faced, including the conflict between the pro- and anti-slavery governments in Kansas. The last section of the book focuses on the final months of the Buchanan presidency, when trouble erupted in South Carolina, leading to the secession of a number of southern states, and ultimately to the civil war. Baker points out how Buchanan entered the presidency as well-prepared as any chief executive. So what went wrong? Baker dispels the myth that Buchanan was weak and indecisive, and makes the case for her subject's real shortcomings. In spite of Buchanan's Pennsylvania roots, Baker explains how Buchanan had strong pro-southern sympathies and sentiments, and how he was out of step with his times on the issue of slavery. When the south moved towards succession, Buchanan responded with rhetoric instead of action, not wanting to offend his favorite constituency. Under the president's nose, the southern members of his cabinet readied themselves for what was to come by sending weapons and other supplies to their home states.
Baker compares previous analyses of the Buchanan administration, including Buchanan's own post-mortem of his time in office. In a careful examination of the various theories of why Buchanan did nothing while the nation disintegrated, Baker challenges the competing theories that Buchanan was a strict constitutionalist or a do-nothing ditherer. She makes a compelling case that Buchanan was "an intellectual and electoral hostage" to the South, and how he let ideology trump pragmatism. Baker provides both an excellent analysis of the Buchanan presidency, and showcases her own brilliance in the process.