"I wanted to write a historical novel about James Buchanan," says Updike, "a fascinating man, at least to me. I did so much research I began to dream about him." The research, however, would not lend itself to fiction, and Updike must have felt some of the frustration that he later gives to Professor Clayton. "Having told a number of reviewers I was writing a book about Buchanan," admits Updike, "I painted him black and put him in Rabbit Redux." The last president to compromise the issue of slavery is thus ironically transformed into a black co-worker for Rabbit at the Verity Press.

Professor Clayton might approve of this unexpected use of history, but Updike continued to plan a more historical account of America's fifteenth president. The next appearance of this character is in Buchanan Dying (1974), the only play in Updike's long career.

Even a play...