The Stellar Resume

James Buchanan (1791-1867), a Pennsylvanian from mid-state, was the last President born in the 18th century. His family was large, but he was essentially a brother among a slew of sisters. 

Blessed with above average academic gifts, he attended Dickinson College, read law, and traveled the road to success: a solid legal practice, plus a variety of local and state political offices, ranging from district attorney, to local and state offices to congressman – all by the time he was thirty-five.

He had done well for himself financially. Invariably generous with his family, when his sisters were widowed with half-orphans, he undertook to be their guardians, at least monetarily. His niece Harriet Lane was nine when both her parents died, and “Nunc,” as she came to call him, took her as his special ward, educating her, providing her with all the niceties of a proper young-girlhood, and the sincere love and affection of a benevolent uncle.

When Buchanan served in Congress, he made sure that Miss Harriet was placed in a convenient finishing school. He was grooming her to be his “escort” once she reached young womanhood. 

JB and Jax: Oil and Water

In the 1820s and 30s, just about all politics was Democratic – although some sub-sects were beginning to form. James Buchanan was a Democrat, and gravitated to rough-and-tumble Jacksonian politics. But JB was a suave, cosmopolitan fellow, conscious of his gentlemanly manner and appearance. Now-President Andrew Jackson also seemed cosmopolitan and mannerly, but he was a populist, born and raised rough-and-tumble, and it never left him. The manners part seemed contrived. He also did not have Buchanan’s advantage of a classical education.

As a lifelong bachelor, and before his niece Harriet Lane had a permanent hold on his arm, Buchanan was a popular dinner guest – especially when there was an imbalance of men and women at the table. Since many high level dinner parties hosted a maiden aunt or widowed sister, a single man was a godsend for a table-escort. But as far as Jax was concerned, “Buck,” as he was sometimes called, was perceived as a “Miss Nancy.” Effeminate in his manners and bearing. His close friendship with bachelor Senator William King raised eyebrows.

Nevertheless, President Jackson appointed him Minister to Russia.

Fifteen Years Later….

In 1844, James K. Polk, Tennessean and disciple of Andrew Jackson, was barely known outside a small Congressional circle for most of the Jackson Era, including a term as Speaker of the House. Then a series of election losses consigned him to retired-ish, and sniffing for opportunities. Political circumstances elected him as the country’s first “dark horse” President. It was a complete surprise that he was nominated, and even a bigger surprise when he won – against Whig powerhouse Henry Clay.

Polk appointed James Buchanan as his Secretary of State. This outraged the aged and ailing, but still politically vocal Andrew Jackson, demanding how the new POTUS could have selected “Buck” for the office – with such little experience in diplomacy. The stunned Polk reminded his mentor that he, himself, had appointed him Minister to Russia. Jax was honest in his explanation: the place where Buchanan could do the least damage, and was as far away from me (Jax) as I could put him!

Buchanan served competently enough at State.

A Decade Later…

Diplomatic lessons had been learned well. Harriet Lane was now old enough to be a social asset to “Nunc.” His ingrained manners and ways aligned perfectly with his new assignment from now-President Franklin Pierce: Minister to the Court of St. James. Queen Victoria. Great Britain. The most cosmopolitan place in the world. He was a great hit.

The Queen liked him. So did the Prince Consort. So did his British counterparts. His tenure as ambassador was an unqualified success, both socially and politically. They may have been his happiest years.

He was a Democrat. A Pennsylvanian. Politically a unionist and against slavery. A man of reputation and resume. With few “enemies” so to speak. And many friends, including many southern friends. And being out of the country for four years, he was untainted by the roiling political waters that was turning into a spewing boiling miasma.

In 1856, he was the Democratic candidate for President – and won.

Elements of Failure

All the qualities that made James Buchanan successful in Great Britain conspired against him in Washington. His “social” White House was superb. Miss Harriet was a gracious hostess. Even Queen Victoria was pleased to allow her son, the eighteen-year-old Prince of Wales, to pay a visit to Washington, guest of the POTUS, a man old enough to be his grandfather.

But social acumen alone does not strong leadership make. The national “problems” – slavery at the top of the list, the spread of slavery as close runner-up, new territories in a position to “choose” for-or-against slavery was insidious, and a total defiance of law and order was becoming the way of the country.

Strong leadership was needed. A compassionate – and dispassionate nature. And the disposition toward flexibility, creative thinking and good humor. Most of Buck’s experience was legislative rather than executive. Most of his closest friendships were with Southerners. Untested in strong leadership, he floundered and wrung his hands through the tug-of-war that was becoming a real war, making the wrong decisions: sending soldiers when he should have sent diplomats; sending diplomats when he should have sent soldiers. And selecting the wrong ones anyway.

He was considered a failure when he left office, although he spent the remaining seven years of his life trying to explain his reasoning.

He undoubtedly meant well, but his reputation has never improved.

Sources:

Baker, Jean – James Buchanan – Times Books – 2004

Klein, Philip S. – President James Buchanan: A Biography – Pennsylvania State University Press, 1990

https://www.whitehouse.gov/about-the-white-house/presidents/james-buchanan/

https://www.britannica.com/biography/James-Buchanan-president-of-United-States