Through a 21st century lens, the long lineage of U.S. Presidents is a startling assembly.

All men, of course, with one famous and notable exception, all white.

Many born of astonishing privilege. A handful were celebrated leaders, a few

masters of oratory, others brilliant legislative and judicial minds. A few of them were

acknowledged visionaries. A whole bunch of them were certainly not.

But without exception, they are flawed human beings in a few in deeply uncomfortable ways.

For perspective, it's always fun to turn to the presidential rankings, grading on qualities like

crisis leadership, international relations, moral authority, and administrative skills,

among others.

How did they handle the economy, the military?

What were their racial attitudes?

That one can stick in your craw.

More than half of U.S. presidents were open white supremacists.

When the scores are tallied, it's always the stars at the top.

Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, Roosevelt, JFK, JFK, JFK.

Lower down, way lower down on the list, are the Antibellum Presidents.

Fillmore, Pierce, Tyler, Taylor, that whole crowd.

And one name never seems to escape the lowest of the failing grades.

Basement Dweller James Buchanan.

15th President of the United States.

Hail to the Chief. The Oh, The course of events is so rapidly hastening forward that the emergency may soon arise when you may be called upon to decide

the momentous question, whether you possess the power by force of arms to compel a state to remain in the Union. I should feel myself

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