James Buchanan (The American Presidents Series)

By: Jean H. Baker and Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.

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Synopsis: Almost no president was as well trained and well prepared for the 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 be an excuse to forget 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.

Book Quality:: Excellent
Book Size:: 174 Pages
ISBN-13:: 9780805069464
Publisher:: Henry Holt & Company
Date of Addition:: 04/16/09
Copyrighted By:: Jean H. Baker
Adult content:: No
Language:: English
Has Image Descriptions:: No
Categories:: History, Nonfiction, Teens, Biographies and Memoirs, Politics and Government
Submitted By:: Digital Divide Data
Proofread By:: Digital Divide Data
Usage Restrictions:: This is a copyrighted book.