Mock Sauerbraten Dinner
James Buchanan was born in Pennsylvania into a prosperous family. After graduating from college, he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1812. In that same year, he joined the military to fight in the War of 1812. He was elected to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, follwed by the Unites States House of Representatives. In 1832 he was appointed by Andrew Jackson to be the Minister of Russia. He returned home and was called to the Senate. In 1845, he was named Secretary of State under President James Polk. In 1853-56, he served as Minister to Great Britain under President Pierce. After three failures, he was finally nominated for president in 1856. He was viewed as a compromise between the two sides of the slavery question. His election victory took place in a three-man race. As President, he was a Northerner with Southern sympathies, who battled Stephen A. Douglas for the control of the Democratic Party. Buchanan’s efforts to maintain peace alienated both sides and the Southern states secceeded. Buchanan’s view was that secession was illegal, but that going to war to stop it was also illegal. He was first and foremost an attorney.
His inability to impose peace on divided partisans on the brink of Civil War has led to his consistent ranking by historians as one of the worst Presidents. The tragedy is if he had been willing to make the necessary changes to right the wrongs in behalf of the African- American people, he could have been one of the best presidents. Biographer Philip Klein said this:”Buchanan assumed leadership…when an unprecedented wave of angry passion was sweeping the nation. That he held the hostile sections in check during these revolutionary times was in itself a remarkable achievement. His weaknesses in the stormy years of his presidency were magnified by enraged partisans of the North and South. His many talents, which in a quieter era might have gained for him a place among the great presidents, were quickly overshadowed by the cataclysmic events of civil war and by the towering Abraham Lincoln.” He was supposedly against slavery but did nothing for the African-American cause.
Buchanan was a bachelor. His niece, Harriet Lane was the daughter of Buchanan’s sister. When his sister and brother-in-law died, Buchanan assumed her guardianship. She was brought up by Buchanan in all the social graces and the ability to dispose of any social discomforts that might threaten to arise. When Buchanan was Ambassador to the Court of St. James, Harriet accompanied him and was able to blend in with London society so successfully that she became a great favorate of Queen Victoria.
When Buchanan became President, Harriet assumed the role of official White House hostess. She was greatly admired for her tact, poise and social grace.
The President had become fond of French cuisine but was also very fond of Pennsylvania Dutch food, having been raised in that area of the country. His favorite dishes were Sauerbraten, red cabbage, chicken salad and Succotash. His favorite desserts were Jefferson Davis pie, Confederate Pudding, Moss Rose Cake, Peach Charlotte, and Charlotte Russe.
During the 1850’s there was an annual visit of the Native American delegation. Mrs. Clement Clay reported on this most exciting event. “These delegates usually numbered several hundred. They camped in the square in the Barracks. They were bare-chested, had scalps on their belts and tomahawks in hand. They beat their drums, danced or threw their tomahawks in the air. To see them wandering around the East Room was quite a spectacle. The chiefs through their official interpreter, expressed to the President their pleasure at being there and told him of their desire for continued peace. Then, they indicated they needed farm impliments and a grist mill…All of a sudden a young brave sprang from the floor and screamed,” ‘These walls and these halls belong to the redman’. ‘The very ground on which you stand is ours. You have stolen it from our families and I am for war that the wrongs of my people may be righted!’ “His motions became so threatening that the guests started to panic, but President Buchanan calmly assured him that the White House belonged to the Native Americans, just as it did to all the people of the country and he welcomed the red brothers to their own on behalf of the country.”
The largest social event of Buchanan’s four years was the visit of the Prince of Wales in October. This was the first visit to the former American colonies of an heir-apparent to the British throne. Harriett wanted to have a grand ball, but the President said “no dancing” out of respect to the many people throughout the country who believed dancing was sinful. Instead, a grand state dinner was held. After the dinner and entertaining was over and all the guests had retired, Buchanan discovered all the beds were being used and he had to sleep on a sofa. The Queen of England was very pleased at the hospitality shown to her son and sent the President and Harriet her personal thanks and gifts of appreciation. This marked the beginning of the firm ties that were to bind the British nobility and American high society for many years to come.
Although the two parties held for the Prince were beyond description in beauty and decadence, they were almost equaled by the President’s own inaugural ball in 1857. Harriet had suggested dancing but Buchanan had reminded her of the four previous administrations that didn’t allow dancing, drinking, etc. He didn’t want to offend anyone so he had a special structure built for the ball. Washington society danced the night away, but first the 5,000 ate: eight rounds of beef, 75 hams, 60 saddles of mutton, four saddles of venison, 400 gallons of oysters, 500 quarts of chicken salad, 500 quarts of jellies, 1200 quarts of ice cream and pates of many varieties. The meal came to a climax with the presentation of a cake four feet tall and cleverly decorated with the flags of every state and the territories. Wouldn’t you think that was enough food? But, the food actually ran out before the guests had satisfied themselves. In the President’s Cookbook, by Cannon and Brooks, it was said:”President Pierce’s parsemony had left a hungry Washington behind him.”
Once a week there was a state dinner of about 40 people that would include members of Congress, Supreme Court Justices and the diplomatic corps, service personnel and important visitors from both home and abroad. Guests had to be seated in the proper order of precedence without offending anyone and Harriet not only had to know the proper order of precedence, but how to avoid putting people together that were in the middle of political feuds, that have always existed in Washington. All the expenses for this lavish entertaining was paid for by President Buchanan. He had an allowance like all the presidents, but it was insufficient for his taste. For example, one of his eccentricities was to have fresh butter sent him regularly from Philadelphia in a locked, brass-bound kettle.
During the holiday season of 1860, the nation had just voted to have Lincoln succeed. The Southern states saw Lincoln’s election as the death of slavery, growing irrelevance of their role in federal government and an end to the southern way of life. Eleven states led by South Carolina started drawing up Articles of Secession, as Buchanan, a Southern sympathizer worked to find a solution to the crisis. The party split between a more moderate Northern branch and the pro-slavery southern wing and nominated two different candidates for the presidency. This ensured the election of Lincoln, a Republican. Then, came the secession of the deep-South states and the Civil War followed.
At his last New Year’s Day reception in 1861, 5000 people came to bid him farewell. It was a bright ending to a hospitable four years, in spite of his political debauchery.
He gratefully returned to his home, Wheatlands in Lancaster, Pennsylvania but he was still harrassed by those who believed he was responsible for the Civil War.
He lived to see his beloved niece, Harriet marry Henry Elliot Johnson, a banker of whom he approved and to see their first child born. He continued to support Lincoln during the War as he felt that saving the Union was the most important issue. In 1868 he passed away at Wheatlands.
Mock Sauerbraten Dinner
1- 6-quart Dutch oven
2-4 pound rump roast, depending on how many people you are serving
1 can French onion soup
1 can consomme- If the roast is 4 pounds, use 2 cans consomme
1 can water
1 can beef broth
2 bay leaves
2 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 large potatoes, peeled and quartered
1 head cabbage, quartered, core removed
no salt at this time because of the salt in the canned soup
Brown pot roast on all sides in olive oil. Add consomme, beef broth, French onion soup, bay leaves, and garlic. Bring to a boil on stove top, turn heat down and simmer roast for 1 1/2 hours. Add potatoes and cabbage. Turn up heat until broth starts to boil again, turn down heat and simmer meat and vegetables 40 minutes or until tender. If the head of cabbage is large, cut into smaller pieces so it will be done at the same time as the potatoes. After meat is tender and vegetables are done, remove from Dutch oven to a bowl so the gravy can be made.
German Gravy
Remove bay leaves and garlic. Add to broth: 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 3 tablespoons cider vinegar and 1 cup crushed ginger snaps. (they must be ginger snaps and not other kinds of ginger cookies) Stir mixture with a wooden spoon until ginger snaps are melted and gravy is thickened. If gravy should be too thick, just add a little water. It is the ginger snaps that act as the thickener instead of flour. Correct the seasoning. Place slices of pot roast, potatoes and cabbage back in the pot to heat, then serve with the rich brown gravy.
Please Be Seated! 