James Buchanan

In the 1850s, slavery began it rise as a major issue that spread across the United States, and initiated the division between the North and South. The People needed an answer to a problem, and most turned to future president, James Buchanan to interfere or rather "stall" this problem. As Buchanan launched his presidential campaign, he spoke of his personal and political beliefs towards slavery. Although he personally saw slavery as something degrading and unmoral, he also viewed the abolitionists as an ongoing problem and a greater risk to the Union. Because Buchanan believed that slavery should be in the hands of the individual states in order to gain Southern support, and then continued to state, "Before many years the abolitionists will bring war upon this land," in favor of the North, Buchanan ended up winning the election. The people believed he would be the answer to this menacing issue. Shortly after Buchanan's inauguration, an ongoing case of Dred Scott vs. St. Louis Circuit Court had finally been settled, ending in the Supreme Court which decided that "slaves could not sue in the U.S. court of law." Buchanan was determined to sustain his loyalty from the South, and soon assembled a constitution in favor of slavery for Kansas. Democrat, Stephen Douglas, requested a popular vote in Kansas in order to hopefully protest against this new constitution, which eventually led to the division, weakening, and then the split of the Democratic Party. Republican Abraham Lincoln soon took center stage as the President of the United States, while Buchanan seemed to take no part in trying to stop secession, which in turn allowed the states time to begin a government.

James Buchanan before and during his term in office is a true expression of Paradox #1, which explains the nation "demands a presidential leadership that solves the nation's problems."