America is on the eve of civil war, and James Buchanan is alone in the White House as our first and only bachelor president. Historians Jean Baker and Jim Loewen, and The Washington Post's Jim Tankersley, explore the lack of personal and political union.

James Buchanan: The bachelor and the bloodshed

The Washington Post's Presidential podcast explores how each former American president reached office, made decisions, handled crises and redefined the role of commander-in-chief. It was released leading up to up to Election Day 2016,  starting with George Washington in week one and ending on week 44 with the president-elect. New special episodes in the countdown to the 2020 presidential election highlight other stories from U.S. presidential history that can help illuminate our current moment. Hosted by Lillian Cunningham, the series features Pulitzer Prize-winning biographers like David McCullough and Washington Post journalists like Bob Woodward. [When you're done, listen to Lillian's other historical podcasts: Constitutional and Moonrise]

Education

Government

History

The Washington Post's Presidential podcast explores how each former American president reached office, made decisions, handled crises and redefined the role of commander-in-chief. It was released leading up to up to Election Day 2016, starting with George Washington in week one and ending on week 44 with the president-elect. New special episodes in the countdown to the 2020 presidential election highlight other stories from U.S. presidential history that can help illuminate our current moment. Hosted by Lillian Cunningham, the series features Pulitzer Prize-winning biographers like David McCullough and Washington Post journalists like Bob Woodward. [When you're done, listen to Lillian's other historical podcasts: Constitutional and Moonrise]

Share James Buchanan: The bachelor and the bloodshed

Sign up to save your podcasts

James Buchanan: The bachelor and the bloodshed

James Buchanan: The bachelor and the bloodshed

More shows like Presidential

Listening to America

The History Chicks : A Women's History Podcast

Ben Franklin's World

The Bowery Boys: New York City History

We the People

Capehart

Civics 101

Sidebar

This American President

Constitutional

History That Doesn't Suck

Slow Burn

Capital Weather Gang

American History Tellers

American Scandal

American Revolution Podcast

Post Reports

Moonrise

HISTORY This Week

Canary: The Washington Post Investigates

Please, Go On with James Hohmann

For the Ages: A History Podcast

Broken Doors

American History Hit

The 7

Field Trip

The Empty Grave of Comrade Bishop

Try This

Reasonably Optimistic

The Campaign Moment

The Sports Moment