Favorable or Unfavorable #102: James Buchanan

[vcczar]

Pres. James Buchanan of PA started out his career as a Federalists but supported Jackson when his state went wild for him. 

Two things need to be elaborated on: 1) His 1836 opposition to the gag rule had nothing to do with abolitionism, obviously. He thought that it would actually increase support or abolitionists. This was one of his wisest moments, he lost almost all wisdom as president. 2) Only kind of captured here is Buchanan's strong anti-Douglas feelings. He hated Douglas more than he hated the GOP, secession threats, etc. If you read any in depth account about him, it is unbelievable how much he'll interfere and otherwise put energy into thwarting or weakening Douglas. He doesn't put 1% of the energy into resolving sectional crises, bank panics, clearing out his administrations corruption, etc. 

Another thing that could have been an action is his cabinet appointments. It was an entirely pro-South cabinet with many Southerners, and every single one (except for maybe Sec of War Floyd) a yes-man. He did not take second opinions, did not like being contradicted, and he did not treat any non-Buchananite Democrat as if they were also a Democrat. I think he might be the only incumbent president to lose control of his party to another faction within the party. Douglas was arguably party leader from 1858 on, hence his near total support among incumbent Democrats outside of the South in 1860. If Lincoln was going to be defeated in 1860, it would have required Buchanan endorsing Douglas to encourage the South to do the same, but Lincoln might have won anyway based on Buchanan's blunderings. 

Also not captured below, because I couldn't find specific dates, is that Buchanan was wanting to take Alaska, Cuba, and two states of Mexico. GOP shut down much of his aggressive foreign policy. 

His actions:

Buchanan, James	1824	A leader among Pro-Jackson Federalists, although he initially supported Clay
Buchanan, James	1828	Aided in building a party around Jackson
Buchanan, James	1832	Appt Amb to Russia for Jackson
Buchanan, James	1836	Opposes gag rule sponsored by Calhoun to censor abolitionists
Buchanan, James	1842	Opposes Webster-Ashburton Treaty as surrendering land to UK
Buchanan, James	1844	candidate for Demo pres nom
Buchanan, James	1845	appointed Sec of State for Polk
Buchanan, James	1846	Declines offer to take SC position vacated by Baldwin's death, after Woodward is rejected.
Buchanan, James	1846	Urges Polk to seek entire Oregon Territory, but Polk seeks a compromise
Buchanan, James	1846	Plays a leading role in Oregon Treaty
Buchanan, James	1846	Public opposition to Wilmot Proviso earns him support of pro-Slavery South
Buchanan, James	1847	Plays a leading role in treaty ending Mexican War, although he urges taking more territory
Buchanan, James	1848	Democratic candidate for Pres
Buchanan, James	1852	seeks Demo pres nom; declines VP offer
Buchanan, James	1853	Appt Amb to UK for Pierce
Buchanan, James	1854	Involved in controversial Ostend Manifesto and likely author of it
Buchanan, James	1856	Wins 1856 elections
Buchanan, James	1857	Despite urgings, refuses to retain Marcy as Sec of State as too close to Pierce
Buchanan, James	1857	Used influence to interfere w/ Dred Scot decision while as pres-elect and as pres to defend slavery
Buchanan, James	1857	Sends army to Utah to removed Brigham Young as Terr. Gov., sparking Utah War
Buchanan, James	1857	Removes Northern Dems allied to either Pierce or Douglas, alienating them both
Buchanan, James	1857	Presides during Panic of 1857, arguing against relief and leaving the crisis to the states
Buchanan, James	1857	Endorses pro-slavery Lecompton Const. in KS
Buchanan, James	1858	Endorses the English Bill; KS gains statehood if accepts Lecompton Const.
Buchanan, James	1858	Buchanan's influence on Const makes him seen as "pawn of Slave Power" to Northerners
Buchanan, James	1858	1st Trans-Atlantic telegram (btwn Buchanan and Queen Victoria)
Buchanan, James	1858	Loses majority of support of Dem Party to Douglas after midterm elections
Buchanan, James	1858	Orders Paraguay Expedition
Buchanan, James	1858	Presided as MN becomes a state
Buchanan, James	1859	Calls for Federal Slave Code
Buchanan, James	1859	Presided as OR becomes a state
Buchanan, James	1859	Publicly blames Abolitonists for raid on Harpers Ferry
Buchanan, James	1859	Calls for withdrawl of paper currency from banks amid ongoing Panic of 1857
Buchanan, James	1859	Vetoes Land Grand Act, arguing that there are "too many educated people."
Buchanan, James	1860	Covode Commit. invest exposes corruption of Buchanan admin but won't impeach
Buchanan, James	1860	Follows through with his one-term pledge
Buchanan, James	1860	Supports Southern Dems forming own party; endorses Breckinridge for pres
Buchanan, James	1860	Supports Corwin Amendment
Buchanan, James	1860	Vetoes Homestead Act
Buchanan, James	1860	Presides during secession of Southern states
Buchanan, James	1860	Persuaded by Sec of War Floyd (a Southerner) not to reinforce forts in the South amid crisis
Buchanan, James	1860	Waffles on a decisive plan in response to secession crisis
Buchanan, James	1860	In speech argues that states cannot legally secede but that the Fed Gov't can't stop them from doing it either
Buchanan, James	1861	Presided as KS becomes a state
Buchanan, James	1861	Orders supplies to reinforce Ft Sumter, but the ship has to turn back as it is unprotected
Buchanan, James	1861	After threats of resignation, opts not to order a withdrawl of Ft Sumter
Buchanan, James	1861	Signs the Morrill Tariff, a Rep protect. tariff, only because it helped his homestate
Buchanan, James	1861	Endorses the Union war effort once it begins

[Pringles]

Not favorable of him, but he's a lot better post-presidency and pre-presidency... I admire the respect he had for incoming President Lincoln, and he was quite saddened when he heard Lincoln had been killed.