Presidential Chronicles

James Buchanan #4: Cabinet Conflict (1844-1849); Topics covered include: Election of 1844, Presidency of James Polk, Manifest Destiny, Secretary of State, conflict with President Polk, Texas annexation, resolution to border dispute with Great Britain over the Oregon Territory, Mexican War, peace negotiations, and final result Key people: Martin Van Buren, James Polk, Henry Clay, George Dallas, Geo...

James Buchanan #3: Senatorial Legalist (1834-1843); Topics covered include: Senator, supports the Andrew Jackson administration, election of 1836, Panic of 1837, mother dies, becomes the leader of the family, personal life, relationship with Rufus King, and discussion of whether James Buchanan was gay Key people: Samuel McKeon, William Wilkins, Robert Coleman, Ann Coleman, Esther Parker (Miss Hett...

James Buchanan #2: Jacksonian Challenges (1820-1833); Topics covered include: Congressman, Missouri Compromise, election of 1824, "corrupt bargain" (including his role), election of 1828, Presidency of Andrew Jackson, Cabinet resignation (en masse), Minister to Russia, negotiates commercial trade agreement, and returns to the United States Key people: James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, John Q...

James Buchanan #1: Pennsylvania Roots (1791-1819); Topics covered include: Parents, attends Dickinson College, becomes a lawyer, elected to the State Assembly, War of 1812, legal practice takes off, engagement to Ann Coleman, suicide of Ann Coleman, and the aftermath of the death of Ann Coleman Key people: James Buchanan (father), Elizabeth Buchanan, John King, James Hopkins, James Madison, Ann Co...

Franklin Pierce #10: Unapologetic Constitutionalist, Come What May (1857-1869); Topics covered include: Leaves the presidency, trip to Europe, election of 1860, views on secession, Civil War, criticism of President Abraham Lincoln, Emancipation Proclamation, death of Jane Pierce, death of Nathaniel Hawthorne, begins drinking again, support for Jefferson Davis, and his own death Key people: William...

Franklin Pierce #9: Bleeding Kansas (1855-1856); Topics covered include: President of the United States, Bleeding Kansas, election of 1856, denied renomination, election of James Buchanan, and final defense of his presidency to Congress Key people: Wilson Shannon, Andrew Reeder, Charles Robinson, James Lane, Samuel Jones, John Brown, Charles Sumner, Stephen Douglas, Andrew Butler, Preston Brooks,...

Franklin Pierce #8: It Doesn't Get Any Easier (1854-1855); Topics covered include: President of the United States, seeks acquisition of Cuba, Ostend Manifesto, setbacks in midterm elections, and numerous challenges in the Kansas Territory Key people: Pierre Soule, William Marson, James Buchanan, John Mason, John Hale, Jane Pierce, George Manypenny, Andrew Reeder, and Wilson Shannon For more in...

Franklin Pierce #7: Kansas-Nebraska and Popular Sovereignty (1854); Topics covered include: President of the United States, popular sovereignty, Kansas-Nebraska Act, enforcement of the Fugitive Slave Law, criticized as "Doughface," strict constructionist, and vetoes Key people: Stephen Douglas, Salmon Chase, James Blaine, and Dorothea Dix For more information on the "Presidential Ch...

Franklin Pierce #6: Cloud Over the Presidency (1853); Topics covered include: Death of Benny Pierce (train accident) and reactions, inaugurated as President of the United States, death of Vice President William King, selects Cabinet, patronage, World's Fair (Crystal Palace), foreign affairs, Manifest Destiny, and the Gadsden Purchase Key people: Jane Pierce, Benny Pierce, Jefferson Davis, Abby...

Franklin Pierce #5: Dark Horse (1848-1852); Topics covered include: Successful law practice, Compromise of 1850, election of 1852, receives Democratic nomination as a Dark Horse candidate, and is elected President of the United States Key people: Jane Pierce, Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, Winfield Scott, Lewis Cass, Stephen Douglas, James Polk, Charles Peaslee, A.G. Allen, John George, Sidney...

Franklin Pierce #4: Stumbles in War (1847-1848); Topics covered include: Mexican War; role (limited) in Battles at the National Bridge, Contreras, Churubusco, Molina del Rey, and Chapultepec; fall in the Pedregal; illnesses; negotiates and defends initial armistice, and his return home Key people: Winfield Scott, Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, Gideon Pillow, George Morgan, Trueman Ransom, William Ma...

Franklin Pierce #3: Back to New Hampshire (1842-1847); Topics covered include: Out of politic, State Temperance Society, success as lawyer, death of Frank Pierce, named head of the Democratic Party of New Hampshire, election of 1844, conflict with John Hale, views on slavery, declines offer to become Attorney General of the U.S., Mexican War, volunteers, and promoted to Brigadier General Key peopl...

Franklin Pierce #2: Coming Into His Own (1830-1842); Topics covered include: Speaker of the House (New Hampshire), Jacksonian Democracy, Colonel in NH Militia, Congressman, marries Jane Appleton, relationship/differences with Jane, supports the administration of Andrew Jackson, called a "Doughface," elected to the U.S. Senate, Presidency of Martin Van Buren, Panic of 1837, moves to Conco...

Franklin Pierce #1: Oh, to Be Like Dad (1804-1830); Topics covered include: Father (Benjamin Pierce) is his personal hero, well-educated, natural leader, attends Bowdoin College, friendship with Nathaniel Hawthorne, lawyer, meets Jane Appleton, town moderator (Hillsborough, NH), election of 1828, and elected to the lower house of the state legislature of New Hampshire Key people: Benjamin Pierce,...

Millard Fillmore #10: Leading Citizen of Buffalo (1856-1874); Topics covered include: End of political career, marries Caroline McIntosh, new home in Buffalo, volunteer and philanthropist for numerous causes in Buffalo, election of 1860, views on secession, Civil War, Union Continentals, views on President Abraham Lincoln, and his death Key people: Caroline (McIntosh) Fillmore, Abraham Lincoln, Wi...

Millard Fillmore #9: Grief-Stricken Know-Nothing (1853-1856); Topics covered include: Leaves the presidency, death of Abigail Fillmore, trip to South, death of Abby Fillmore, demise of Whig Party, joins the American ("Know-Nothing") Party, election of 1856, Order of the Star Spangled Banner, tours Europe, nominated for President ("Know-Nothing" candidate), and the outcome of th...

Millard Fillmore #8: Presidential Duties and Reelection Prospects (1850-1853); Topics covered include: California Gold Rush; telegraph; presidential trips; family life in the White House; foreign affairs; relations with Portugal, Cuba, Hawaii, and Japan; election of 1852, and focus on the beautification of Washington, D.C. Key people: Abigail Fillmore, Powers Fillmore, Abby Fillmore, Daniel Webste...

Millard Fillmore #7: Implementing the Compromise of 1850 (1850-1852); Topics covered include: Border conflict between Texas and New Mexico, death of President Zachary Taylor, takes oath as President of the United States, formed new Cabinet, signs Compromise of 1850 measures into law, and conflicts over the Compromise including the Fugitive Slave Law Key people: Peter Bell, Zachary Taylor, William...

Millard Fillmore #6: Debating the Compromise of 1850 (1849-1850); Topics covered include: President Zachary Taylor's "President's Plan," Wilmot Proviso, Compromise of 1850, and the debates in the Senate Key people: Zachary Taylor, David Wilmot, Henry Clay, John Calhoun, Daniel Webster, Thomas Benton, Jefferson Davis, William Seward, Henry Foote, and Alexander Stephens For more in...

Millard Fillmore #5: Patronage Wars (1849); Topics covered include: Vice President of the United States, relationship with President Zachary Taylor, and patronage challenges Key people: Zachary Taylor, Thurlow Weed, William Seward, Hamilton Fish, William Ketchum, and Levi Allen For more information on the "Presidential Chronicles" series, please visit https://www.presidentialchronicles.c...

Millard Fillmore #4: Higher Office (1843-1848); Topics covered include: Returns to Buffalo, election of 1844, runs for Governor of New York, elected Comptroller of New York, moves to Albany, election of 1848, Whig nominee for Vice President, and elected Vice President of the United States Key people: Nathan Hall, Solomon Haven, Thurlow Weed, William Seward, Theodore Frelinghuysen, Silas Wright, Ma...

Millard Fillmore #3: Congress and Family (1841-1843); Topics covered include: Congressman, American System, Chairman House Ways & Means, tariff policies, Fillmore Tariff, supports Samuel Morse and his telegraph, retires from Congress, and his relationship and correspondence with his children Key people: William Henry Harrison, Henry Clay, John White, John Tyler, Samuel Morse, Abigail Fillmore,...

Millard Fillmore #2: National and State Politics (1830-1840); Topics covered include: State Assemblyman, law practice, Congressman, new law partnership, active in Buffalo society, economic policies of the Jackson/Van Buren administrations, Texas annexation, views on slavery, and declines entreaties to run for State Comptroller Key people: Joseph Clary, Nathan Hall, Solomon Haven, Abigail Fillmore,...

Millard Fillmore #1: To the State House (1800-1831); Topics covered include: Parents, log cabin youth, no formal education, apprentice, Erie Canal, law clerk, foundational beliefs (Union and the Constitution), lawyer, marries Abigail Powers, first child, Anti-Mason, elected State Assembly, and his initial relationship with Thurlow Weed Key people: John Fillmore, Abigail Fillmore, Phoebe Millard, A...

Zachary Taylor #10: Contentious Compromise (1849-1850); Topics covered include: President of the United States, focus on governance and slavery in the acquired territories, The President's Plan, conflict with Congress, debates over the Compromise of 1850, conflict between Texas and New Mexico, Taylor's announces opposition to the Compromise measures, Taylor becomes ill, and Taylor dies Key...