James Buchanan, “Worst. President. Ever;” election stress

Guests: Robert Strauss, Lynn Bufka

James Buchanan is considered among the worst presidents in our nation’s history.  Buchanan had a lot of political experience but that didn’t translate into good decision-making in the oval office, according to a new biography by journalist ROBERT STRAUSS.  He meddled with the Dred Scott Supreme Court decision, exacerbated the Panic of 1857, and fomented the John Brown uprisings. Strauss recounts Buchanan’s dismal presidency in his book, Worst. President. Ever. James Buchanan, the POTUS rating Game, and the Legacy of the Least of the Lesser Presidents. Then, are you feeling stressed out by this election?  You’re not alone, according to a new survey by the American Psychological Association, more than half of American adults report that the 2016 Presidential contest is a major source of stress and anxiety. We’ll talk with one of the survey’s authors, psychologist LYNN BUFKA, about the mental health impact of the election and how to cope for three more weeks.