Mr. Buchanan's Administration on the Eve of the Rebellion

What it is

This is a book written by former president James Buchanan and published in 1866 by D. Appleton & Company. In thirteen chapters, written mostly in the third person, Buchanan defends his record during the lead-up to the Civil War, especially the secession crisis of 1860-61.

Why it matters

Buchanan wrote the book after leaving office amid the Fort Sumter crisis, hoping to counter criticism that he had been too passive. He gathered documents to support his case and argued that responsibility for the war lay with abolitionists, Republicans, and figures like General Winfield Scott, rather than with himself. The book shows how a former president tried to shape how history would judge him, and it reveals his continuing defense of a cautious, pro-Southern course even after the war ended.

Look closer

• Why might Buchanan have chosen to write about himself in the third person instead of using