Pennsylvania gave the nation Ben Franklin, the "first American." But the best it could do in the presidential sweepstakes is James Buchanan. That turned out to be not so good. But the commonwealth might be in line for a second bite of the apple.
Buchanan, president from 1857-61, was born in a log cabin in Cove Gap, grew up in Mercersburg, attended Dickinson College in Carlisle and practiced law in Lancaster. Better Pennsylvanian bones would be hard to find.
Buchanan served as a representative in both the state House and Congress, as minister to Russia and later as secretary of State. He was nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court but declined. And just prior to becoming president, he was minister to the Court of St. James.
Buchanan was a man on fire throughout most of his climb to the White House. He had a hot political hand and seemed to move from one lofty position to another with ease. But all that went wrong once he became president. A search of his presidential accomplishments yields little that is not negative -- except that he remained a bachelor throughout his tenure, which could go either way.
No fan of enlightenment, Buchanan vetoed a bill that would have created new colleges, saying that there were already too many educated people.
He was known as a "doughface" -- a Northerner with Southern beliefs -- and he argued that slavery was purely a states' rights issue, part of the "constitutional compact we have with our sister states."
Buchanan is usually near the very bottom or last in the rankings of presidents.
But now there is a chance that Pennsylvania could break out of the cellar, depending on how the Republican field for president fares. Rick Santorum, Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney could all be headed for the Keystone State soon, depending on who is still standing.
Santorum was born in Virginia but grew up in Butler, attended Penn State and Pitt and served as a member of Congress and U.S. senator from Pennsylvania. The only place his career crosses paths with Buchanan is at Dickinson, which the former president attended and from which Santorum earned his law degree.
Gingrich was born in Harrisburg and raised at least part of the time in Hummelstown, between the state capital and Hershey. Buchanan, as a state legislator, spent much of his time in and around Harrisburg, providing Gingrich with his own little Buchanan nexus.
Ron Paul, long a congressman of Texas, was born in Pittsburgh and attended Dormont High School, where he became the state champ in the 220-yard dash. He graduated from Gettysburg College, and James Buchanan High School of Mercersburg now competes with Gettysburg High on the track field.
And finally there is Mitt Romney, who strives to be the favorite son of every state and owns houses in a few. Without property here, do not be surprised if he latches on to something tenuous like this: Pennsylvanians drive cars and I drive cars; therefore, I am a Pennsylvanian.
Come the general election, if the economy keeps improving and the Republicans continue to tear each other apart, Pennsylvanians might have to settle for Buchanan and remain in the backwaters of presidential history for a few more cycles.
And what's the rush?
It's been only 150 years.
And as Ben Franklin once said, "Haste makes waste."
