James Buchanan Tells His Story of his Presidency, Leading to Abraham Lincoln and Civil War

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My name is James Buchanan, and I was the 15th President of the United States. You may not know much about me, but if you do, it’s probably because my presidency was one of the most difficult in American history. I led the country just before the Civil War, and I struggled to keep the nation from breaking apart. Let me tell you my story.

I was born on April 23, 1791, in Cove Gap, Pennsylvania. I grew up in a large family, and my father was a successful businessman. Education was important in our household, and I studied hard, eventually attending Dickinson College. I was a bit of a troublemaker as a student, but I managed to graduate and later became a lawyer. I loved the law, and it gave me my first opportunities in politics.

My political career started in the Pennsylvania state legislature, but soon, I moved on to bigger things. I served in the U.S. House of Representatives and later became a senator. I also worked as a diplomat, representing the United States in Russia and later in Great Britain. I was known for my ability to negotiate and keep the peace—something I would need a lot of later in my life.

In 1856, I was elected president, defeating my opponent, John C. Frémont, in a country that was deeply divided over the issue of slavery. The North and South were growing more hostile toward each other, and my goal was to keep the country united. I believed that the Constitution and the courts should decide the issue of slavery, not the president. But that decision only made things worse.

Early in my presidency, the Supreme Court ruled in the infamous Dred Scott decision that African Americans were not citizens and that Congress could not ban slavery in the territories. This outraged the North and pleased the South, making the divisions even stronger. Meanwhile, the situation in Kansas Territory turned violent, as pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers fought over whether Kansas would allow slavery. My efforts to calm things down failed, and the nation grew more unstable.

By the time I left office in 1861, the country was falling apart. Abraham Lincoln was elected president, and Southern states began seceding from the Union. Some people blamed me for not doing enough to stop the Civil War, but I believed that I had followed the Constitution to the best of my ability. Still, I knew history would judge me harshly.

After leaving office, I retired to my home in Pennsylvania and stayed out of public life. I spent my final years writing a book defending my presidency, trying to explain why I made the choices I did. I passed away on June 1, 1868, knowing that my legacy would always be tied to the crisis that led to the Civil War.

If there’s one lesson I want you to take from my story, it’s that leadership in difficult times requires bold decisions. Looking back, I wish I had done more to stop the divisions that tore the country apart. History has not been kind to me, and perhaps that is fair. But I leave it to you to decide what kind of leader I was. Thank you for listening.

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