by Chris DeRose, 2014, Lyons Press, Guilford Connecticut

This was a very interesting book for me to read as it had a wealth of information about the five former presidents who were alive when the Civil War began.  I didn’t know much at all about these presidents, much less about their support or lack of it for Lincoln’s efforts to prosecute the war.

The efforts of the former presidents during the war varied from mild support (Martin Van Buran, Millard Fillmore, James Buchanan) to vigorous opposition via promotion of slavery (Franklin Pierce), to outright treason and engagement in the Confederacy (John Tyler).  None of the former presidents gave their whole-hearted support to the northern cause, however.

As I read the book I thought of our current president and the silence that George W. Bush has maintained since he left office.  With the exception of a bit of politicking on behalf of his brother’s failed presidential campaign, George W. Bush has been fairly silent on the issues.  After reading this book, it appears that this may be the sensible course.  The president has a job to attend to and it appears that the efforts of the five former presidents prior to and during Lincoln’s term probably did more harm than good.

I would recommend this book to anyone having an interest in reading about some little-known history during that time period.