Presiding, 1853–1868

Chapter 7 considers select aspects of Buchanan’s life after King’s death: his time as American minister to England, presidential nomination and election, presidency, retirement years, and the legacy of his friendship with King. In the election of 1856, the Democrats promoted Buchanan’s friendship with King and other Southerners to suggest his pro-southern principles as president. Buchanan was the last presidential candidate elected to run as a “northern man with southern principles.” As president Buchanan sustained pro-southern policies, administered an active social calendar aided by First Lady Harriet Lane, attended a commencement address at the University of North Carolina (the alma mater of William Rufus King), and failed to keep together the Union through the secession winter of 1860 to 1861. During the Civil War and into Reconstruction, Buchanan continued to invoke King and took special care to reconnect with Catherine Margaret Ellis.