James Buchanan had an impressive political career, serving as a Congressman, Senator, diplomat, and cabinet member before becoming the 15th U.S. President. As a skilled negotiator and diplomat, he helped secure the Oregon Treaty and acquire Texas while Secretary of State. Though criticized for his pro-slavery stance on Kansas statehood, Buchanan believed in balancing sectional interests and letting states decide the issue. His presidency was overwhelmed by the growing national divide over slavery that he was unable to resolve.

2. JAMES BUCHANAN
Usually only glorified as being our
15th chief executive, few take the time
to examine that Buchanan was an
uncannily sharp dresser.

3.  Graduate of Dickinson College, gifted in debate
and well-versed in law
 Elected to H.O.R. 5 TIMES!!!
 Ambassador to Russia
 Served in Senate for 10 years (the best 10 years
they ever had)
 Secretary of State to James K. Polk
 Pierce’s Minister to Great Brtitain

4. AS AMBASSADOR TO
RUSSIA
Was appointed by Andrew Jackson in 1832 (good move!)
His God-like negotiating skills scored us a Maritime Trade
Treaty with Russia while Buchanan toured in St. Petersburg.
Still think he didn’t do anything, Mr. Graeme?

5. Secretary of State to James K. Polk
 Buchanan ran for president against Polk, but because
America was intimidated, and not yet ready for so
much handsome-ness to be in charge, Polk won, and
appointed Buchanan as Sec. of State in 1844
 During a time when U.S. was acquiring new territory

6. Sec. Of State Under Polk (cont.)
 Buchanan’s facilitated the acquisition of Texas, and
brokered the Oregon Treaty of 1846, which averted
the threat of war with Britain and resulted in the
Northwest boundary between U.S. and Canada

7. JAMES K. POLK JAMES BUCHANAN
 Mullet  Clearly the more handsome
 Big ears and caveman-ish of the two
forehead  Devil-may-care hairstyle
 Mullet  Strong, Presidential chin
 Sympathetic eyes

8. But you can only
keep a hero down for
so long…

10. Strategy: Buchanan’s Brilliance
 Appointed Minister to Britain under Pierce
 This allowed Buchanan to stay clear of political
controversies regarding slavery (Kansans-Nebraska
Act) and return with an untarnished reputation.
 While politicians at home were engrossed in such
reputation-compromising controversies, Buchanan
came home with his in pristine form

12. Qualifications
• Untarnished Political
reputation
• Sense of Style
• Awesome Hair
• Dashing good looks
• Courage
• Devilishly handsome bachelor
• Sterling Political and
educational background

13.  Ran against the far less competent Republican
candidate John C. Fremont, and the Whig-
American candidate Millard Fillmore.
 Due to his political reputation, history of
compromise, spectacular oratory skills, and
respect for Southern states’ position on slavery
(another excellent move strategically)
 He was the obvious choice for president, and
was elected in 1857

14. The Golden Age: The
Presidency of James
Buchanan
 James Buchanan’s Presidential Strategy:
 Stay out of it
 Wanted America to draw on its internal
strengths, believed that the nation would benefit
and become stronger by dealing with its problems
with as little Presidential interference or help as
possible
 Wanted to deal with the issue by balancing
sectionalism and having the law interpreted as the
Constitution and Supreme Court dictated it
 But of course, the nation was becoming
increasingly divided over the issue of slavery, and
James had to get involved…or did he?

15.  Buchanan was forced to deal with the issue of Kansas
being entered as either a slave or free state
 Buchanan took a pro-slavery stance, thinking only for the
good of the nation
 This drew hatred and criticism from Abolitionists, namely
Stephen Douglas
 This was a minor blunder in a large history of excellent
achievements
 After Kansas entered the union as a free state in 1861,
Buchanan changed his views to support popular
sovereignty, wanting the states to solve this issue
themselves, but this did little to calm the nation after the
Raid on Harper’s ferry, and Buchanan’s reputation was
rendered unfairly ruined politically

17.  “I like the noise of Democracy”
-James Buchanan
 “To avoid entangling alliances has been a maxim of
our policy ever since the days of Washington, and its
wisdom no one will attempt to dispute.” –James
Buchanan
 “What is right and what is practicable are two
different things.” –James Buchanan
 “Buchanan acknowledges an intellectual debt”
-Thomas J. DiLorenzo
 “I‟m glad he‟s not single, „cause I‟m gonna climb that
like a tree.” –Megan from Bridesmaids

18. SOURCES
http://moscow.usembassy.gov/ministers-and-ambassadors.html
http://www.netstate.com/states/peop/people/pa_jb.htm
http://www.biography.com/people/james-buchanan-9230228
http://answers.yourdictionary.com/biography/which-president-never-married.html
http://www.whitehouse.gov/about/presidents/jamesbuchanan
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/database/article_display.cfm?HHID=333
http://mises.org/journals/rae/pdf/rae4_1_6.pdf
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/j/james_buchanan.html