It's 1856 in Kansas's bleeding over the question of slavery, and the blood seeps outward in all directions.

Toward Utah, where the Mormons will soon start fighting with US troops.

Toward Florida, where the remaining Native Americans are fighting to keep their lands in the Third Seminole War.

Toward New York, where the financial panic will close banks and businesses.

Toward Washington, D.C., where a senator from Massachusetts lies bloody on the Senate floor.

After a congressman from South Carolina beats him nearly to death with a cane.

This is the bleeding broken America that is given to James Buchanan to fix as president.

And when he looks to his side for help, he sees no one.

The love of his life has already died, though it turns out we're not sure if that love was Miss Ann Coleman,

or Mr. William Rufus King.

Either way, Buchanan is our first and only bachelor president, and by the time he leaves the White House,

blood will be all over that bachelor's hands.

I'm Lily and Cunningham with the Washington Post, and this is the 15th episode of Presidential.

This is the 20th episode of the White House.

It's the 20th episode of the White House.

The White House is the 20th episode of the White House.

Later in this episode, we're going to look at the economics of the North and South on the eve of Civil War.

First, we're going to look at another lack of union, and that's Buchanan's own personal life.

He's alone at the helm of this country that is tearing apart.

James Buchanan was born in Pennsylvania in 1791, just two years into George Washington's presidency.

His parents were Scotch Irish immigrants, and technically he was born in a log cabin,

but his father was a very successful merchant, successful enough that he could comfortably provide for 11 children.

...