General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: I have painstakingly compiled a list of presidents worse than Donald Trump. Please click to see. [View all]The Velveteen Ocelot
(131,832 posts)The criticism of Buchanan is mainly based on his acceptance of slavery in the southern states and his belief that he didn't have the power to do anything about it. He basically sat on his ass and passively let secession and the Civil War happen. https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/james-buchanan-why-is-he-considered-americas-worst-president/ He also appears to have leaned on the Supreme Court to decide the Dred Scott case the way they did in order to have a "bipartisan" result, and his inaction on economic issues contributed to a near-collapse of the economy. It seemed that every time he did make a decision it turned out to be the wrong one. http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/09/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-worst-president-james-buchanan-214252
Buchanan, despite his stellar resume, seems to have been spectacularly inept and passive in the face of crises - but as far as one can tell, he was not intentionally destructive. He was also not an egomaniac whose decisions were motivated by nothing more than self-aggrandizement and self-enrichment. I think the ghost of James Buchanan is already partying in the White House attic with fellow bad presidents Franklin Pierce and Warren G. Harding.