As the fifteenth President, James Buchanan sought to prevent war. However, many of his policies led to the Civil War. He studied Law in college, passed the bar exam, and became a lawyer. His knowledge of the Law and his skills as a debater helped him stand out as a candidate. The Supreme Court issuing the Dred Scott ruling sparked controversy. Even though he opposed slavery, Buchanan supported the rule of Law. As a result, South Carolina sought to secede from the Union. Buchanan did nothing to stop the division. Many considered him a weak President. Some called him “doughface,” meaning he was a northerner who favored southern opinions. He served as the only President who never married. His niece, Harriet Lane, served as First Lady. When he left office, he told Abraham Lincoln that he was the “happiest man on Earth” to be leaving the White House.