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 annexati…

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 th…

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 …

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, …

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, critici…

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 …

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 nume…

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…

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 Presid…

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 ele…

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…

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 o…

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, rel…

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 Nath…

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 numerou…

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, jo…

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 aff…

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 …

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 Sen…

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…