What Was in the Only Letter James Buchanan Wrote to Abraham Lincoln?

Being President of the United States can be a lonely job — particularly when dealing with an unprecedented crisis that threatens to destroy the nation. There aren’t a lot of people who have the kind of experience necessary to offer sage counsel at such times. That’s why presidents historically have put aside political differences with their predecessors and have welcomed any advice a former president might be willing to offer.

One can only imagine what Abraham Lincoln was going through in October 1861. The southern states had seceded, thrusting the US into a full-blown Civil War. No president had ever dealt with such a crisis.

Perhaps Lincoln experienced a glimmer of hope when the day’s correspondence was delivered to his desk. There, amidst all of the bleak reports from all over the country, was a letter from one person who might be able to provide some much-needed insight. It was his immediate predecessor, James Buchanan, the 15th president of the United States.

Lincoln had criticized Buchanan’s handling of the early days of the crisis. From the election in November 1860 to the inauguration on March 4, 1861, Buchanan did next to nothing to try to head off the great constitutional crisis. Even so, Buchanan was one of only five people alive¹ who had any personal experience with the responsibilities now entrusted to Lincoln. Even if his letter had nothing more than words of encouragement, it would be a welcome oasis in the desert of bad news.

As Lincoln picked up the letter from his predecessor, his hopes for helpful advice or words of encouragement faded. James Buchanan’s one and only time ever writing to him was about a much more mundane topic:

From James Buchanan to Abraham Lincoln, October 21, 1861

Wheatland, near Lancaster

21 October 1861.

My dear Sir,

Pardon me for requesting you to refer this note to your private Secretary.

I believe that I left in the Library of the Executive Mansion Thier’s History (in French) of the Empire (under Napoleon 1st) in some seven or eight volumes. It was covered in paper & has the name of its former owner, Geo W Barton, written in each volume. Should it be found I would thank you to send it either to the State Department or to Dr. Blake.

Sincerely desiring that your administration may prove successful in restoring the union & that you may be more happy in your exalted Station than was your immediate predecessor I remain yours very respectfully

James Buchanan

P. S. Please to remember me kindly & respectfully to Mrs Lincoln

We suspect that a book lover like Lincoln appreciated the sentiment about a missing book, even if he didn’t get some helpful advice.

1. Former presidents Martin Van Buren, John Tyler, Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, and James Buchanan were still living in October 1861. ↩︎

---