American Presidents: Life Portraits


A Site to Complement C-SPAN's 20th Anniversary Television Series, American Presidents: Life Portraits March-December 1999

American Presidents: Life Portraits Exhibit
9-12 Grade Student Activity

James Buchanan

Meet the 15th president!
James Buchanan was the only president to remain a bachelor. About his broken engagement, Buchanan wrote, "life now presents to me a dreary _______."

Look closer!
In the picture it looks as if President Buchanan is about to say something. Consider his struggle to separate his personal tragedy from his professional life. From his experiences, what advice or warnings might he offer to someone who asked? How does this relate to the experiences of modern presidents?

Twenty Years of Public Affairs Programming. Created by America's Cable Companies.