Happy Presidents' Day!

Greetings and thank you so much for having me this week, Justin! I hope that my unique blend of sarcastic and self-effacing commentary will be just the ticket for all you Plus One readers. I thought I’d also start out with an embarrassing story about myself, but what could tales of my drunken antics teach you? Quite a lot actually so I’ll post a few “Trauma-Rama” pieces this week, a la the glory days of Seventeen. But in the spirit of the holiday, first I’d like to introduce you to my favorite president, and apparently a distant relative on my mother’s side: James Buchanan.

Here are a few fun facts about Buchanan; you can go to wikipedia to learn more.

• Buchanan was the president whom immediately preceded Lincoln. His failure to prevent the Civil War by allowing states to concede is considered the single worst failure of a president. He is considered by most historians to be one of the worst presidents in history.

• Since he was a Northern Democrat who sympathized with Southern slave-owners, he earned himself the derogatory term of “doughface.” This term was used to describe politicians whom could be molded or shaped like dough.

• Buchanan was the first and so far, only bachelor president. His relationship with Senator William Rufus King whom he lived with for 15 years before the White House, prompt many to believe that Buchanan was gay. Many documents in relation to this relationship were destroyed, but others also indicate his questionable behavior with many of his male secretaries.

He single-handedly allowed the country to descend into civil war because he was too lazy and conflicted to act against the states that wanted to go on having slaves do all their work for them, and garnered a nickname that is quite offensive as a politician, but as a GAY man must have been absolutely devastating. Well Great-Great-Great-Great Uncle Buchanan, I guess some things do run in the family.

Who’s your favorite President?