James Buchanan

Age:  65 years
old  Wife:  only Bachelor – never married

Political Party:
Democrat

Term(s) as President:
1857-1861

Home
State:  Born: April 23, 1791 in Cove Gap

near Mercersburg,
Pennsylvania

Notes:    Ranked at or near the bottom of
best Presidents

considered by many to be the worst president ever

Failed to do anything to prevent the Civil War

Well qualified to be president – served as Secretary
of State, Congressman, and Foreign Minister

Worked hard

Worked
late at night and was concerned with details

Thought by some to be the nations 1st homosexual
president…  believed to have
had a relationship with William Rufus King (Vice President to Franklin Pierce)

Buchanan’s niece served as hostess, called 1st
Lady

Appeared to support states rights and slavery in the south

Thought to have forced slavery into the Kansas Territory

Runs for re-election in 1860 against Abraham Lincoln  - Lincoln
wins the election

12/20/1860 – South Carolina
secedes from Union, Buchanan believes it to be
illegal but does nothing to stop it, he is a “Lame Duck
President”  - meaning there
was nothing he could do.

6 more state secede before he leaves office

2/9/1861 – Confederate States of America elects Jefferson Davis as
their president