Statue #15: James Buchanan
Rapid City, South Dakota
Judged by historians to be one of America's worst Presidents, James Buchanan (1857-1861) dithered while the southern states became the Confederate States, leading to the Civil War. His bronze statue depicts him as an odd-looking guy, with an aged kewpie doll face and hair, tilted head, and Charlie Chaplain pants and feet. His pose, with hands behind his back, displays timidity, and in his hands he holds a rolled-up piece of paper, possibly an executive order that he never had the courage to issue.
Amazing Arcana of the Presidents
In his memoirs, Buchanan wrote that one of his few regrets as President was that Congress prevented him from invading Cuba.
[Discover more fascinating details in the Roadside Presidents iPhone app!]
City of Presidents
Since 2000, Rapid City has commissioned and installed bronze statues of every former U.S. President on its downtown street corners. Visitors are encouraged to take a walking tour of the City of Presidents and inspect the nation's metallic Commanders in Chief. Paper guides are available year-round at the city's main Visitor Center at 512 Main St.