“The 10 Worst Presidents to Ever Hold Office in the U.S.”

1. James Buchanan (1857–1861)

James Buchanan is widely cited by historians as one of the least effective presidents in U.S. history. As sectional tensions over slavery mounted in the late 1850s, Buchanan struggled to provide decisive leadership.

Instead of addressing the looming crisis, he attempted to placate both Northern and Southern factions in ways that only deepened distrust.

Buchanan supported the pro‑slavery Lecompton Constitution in Kansas and believed the Constitution limited his authority to prevent secession after Abraham Lincoln’s election — positions that left him paralyzed as Southern states began to leave the Union.

Many historians argue his inaction helped set the stage for the Civil War. In surveys of presidential greatness and effectiveness, Buchanan routinely ranks at or near the bottom of the list.

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