James Buchanan holds one distinction no other U.S. president ever has — but it’s not one he celebrated. In this episode of Smartest Year Ever, Gordy explores the story of America’s only bachelor president, diving into the mystery, heartbreak, and speculation that defined his personal life and presidency.
From his tragic engagement to Anne Coleman, to his lifelong bond with William Rufus King, and his niece Harriet Lane’s role as the “Democratic Queen” of Washington society — Buchanan’s life was full of secrets, symbolism, and scandal.
This episode uncovers how image, morality, and politics intertwined in 19th-century America, and how Buchanan’s solitude may have mirrored a nation on the verge of breaking apart.
Watch to learn why Buchanan remains one of the most controversial and enigmatic presidents in U.S. history.
Sources
National Park Service. James Buchanan National Historic Site.
Library of Congress. The James Buchanan Papers.
Klein, P. S. (1962). President James Buchanan: A Biography. Pennsylvania State University Press.
U.S. National Archives. Presidents of the United States: James Buchanan (1857–1861).
Smithsonian Magazine. (2019). James Buchanan’s Complicated Legacy.
Music thanks to Zapsplat.
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