Presidents and the Dissolution of the Union: Leadership Style from Polk to Lincoln

Published Jan. 21, 2016

(Princeton University Press) Greenstein takes a straightforward look at America’s Civil War-era presidents to show how they contributed to the dissolution of the Union. Examining each on multiple levels — from emotional intelligence to political ability — Greenstein highlights both the strength of Lincoln and the great weakness of James Buchanan. Greenstein is a politics professor emeritus at Princeton.

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PAW's July/August 2025 issue cover, featuring a photo of people dressed in orange and black, marching in the P-rade, and the headline: Reunions, Back in Orange & Black.
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July 2025

On the cover: Wilton Virgo ’00 and his classmates celebrate during the P-rade.