JAMES BUCHANAN | A letter from President Buchanan to Robert Tyler, discussing the merits and appointments of various candidates

JAMES BUCHANAN

AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED ("JAMES BUCHANAN") AS 15TH PRESIDENT, TO ROBERT TYLER, SOON-TO-BE CHAIRMAN OF THE PENNSYLVANIA DEMOCRATIC EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 

2 pages (6 3/8 x 7 15/16 in.; 162 x 202 mm) on a bifolium, Washington, 25 July 1857. With engraved portrait of Buchanan.  

A letter from the President to Robert Tyler, discussing the merits and appointments of various candidates

In the present letter to Tyler, Buchanan references W. Ogden and W. Schell, and others, noting that he should not interfere with the appointment of agents, before adding: "I have no doubt, however, that W. Ogden, through government and other friends, can be retained: and I hope this may be so. N[ew]. York you are aware is a ticklish place."

When John Tyler became president in 1841, Robert took up his residence in Washington, acting as private secretary to his father, while his wife presided as mistress of the White House during the first year of the administration. In 1856 Henry A. Wise, a close friend of the Tylers, was elected governor of Virginia. Following this, Wise and Tyler were able to bring Virginia to the support of the Pennsylvanian in the Cincinnati convention of 1856. This led to Tyler's appointment to the chairmanship of the Democratic executive committee of Pennsylvania.

Despite his earlier claim that he will not interfere in certain appointments, Buchanan concludes: "Representations have been made to me from Philadelphia that Dr. Spencer is not a Democrat & did not vote at the last Presidential election. He cannot, however, be a Know-nothing, I feel confident..."