Potus Geeks Book Review: The Worst President
Garry Boulard follows up his earlier work (the Expatriation of Franklin Pierce) with a study of the next of the antebellum presidents, James Buchanan in his 2015 book The Worst President. And while Boulard had some sympathy for the fourteenth president, as the title of this book suggest, the author has little good to say about Buchanan, either personally or as chief executive.
Beginning by dispelling a myth about how Buchanan learned about South Carolina's decision to secede, Boulard briefly describes Buchanan's early life, his political beginnings and his efforts at becoming president, before focusing on Buchanan's presidency. There is much to be critical of Buchanan for, and Boulard efficiently addresses each of these areas. He looks at Buchanan's weak and ineffective response to the coming of the secessionist crisis, his obsequiousness to the southern slave-holding political powers, his unethical conduct in seeking to influence the outcome of the Supreme Court decision of Dred Scott v. Sanford, his backing of the pro-slavery constitution in Kansas when a majority of Kansans opposed slavery in their territory, his inaction as southern cabinet members operated with divided loyalties on the eve of the civil war, and his dithering as South Carolina sought to take control of federal forts. It's quite a shopping list of failings for which many argue that Buchanan has earned the title of "worst president ever."
Boulard manages to paint a complete picture of his subject in a scant 128 pages. His economy of prose does not diminish his ability to tell the story of Buchanan, both as president and as a person. He ably makes the case that in the final analysis, Buchanan's indecisiveness, and his inability to provide leadership at a time when it was a most desired commodity in the life of his nation, have earned him the title that the book bestows on him. This is a concise by complete analysis of Buchanan's failed presidency, told in a manner that is a pleasure to read.
Beginning by dispelling a myth about how Buchanan learned about South Carolina's decision to secede, Boulard briefly describes Buchanan's early life, his political beginnings and his efforts at becoming president, before focusing on Buchanan's presidency. There is much to be critical of Buchanan for, and Boulard efficiently addresses each of these areas. He looks at Buchanan's weak and ineffective response to the coming of the secessionist crisis, his obsequiousness to the southern slave-holding political powers, his unethical conduct in seeking to influence the outcome of the Supreme Court decision of Dred Scott v. Sanford, his backing of the pro-slavery constitution in Kansas when a majority of Kansans opposed slavery in their territory, his inaction as southern cabinet members operated with divided loyalties on the eve of the civil war, and his dithering as South Carolina sought to take control of federal forts. It's quite a shopping list of failings for which many argue that Buchanan has earned the title of "worst president ever."
Boulard manages to paint a complete picture of his subject in a scant 128 pages. His economy of prose does not diminish his ability to tell the story of Buchanan, both as president and as a person. He ably makes the case that in the final analysis, Buchanan's indecisiveness, and his inability to provide leadership at a time when it was a most desired commodity in the life of his nation, have earned him the title that the book bestows on him. This is a concise by complete analysis of Buchanan's failed presidency, told in a manner that is a pleasure to read.