Abraham Lincoln: A Life 1861

From Springfield to Washington, Inauguration, and Distributing Patronage (1861) Lincoln's arrival in Washington generally helps lift the spirits of the city's inhabitants and the North. Despite his efforts to help reach some kind of compromise, the much touted Peace Conference ends in failure and acrimony. Meanwhile Lincoln works on his all important inaugural address, fielding suggestions from close colleagues and deflecting efforts by Seward to make it more bellicose. At this time he also completes the struggle to fill his cabinet, an effort that leaves him both annoyed and depressed. On inauguration day all goes as planned without any violence or disruption, but the country is now too divided, and while the North receives his address positively, the South views it as incendiary and aggressive. Lincoln's first six weeks in office tax him to his limit as he must deal with two all consuming issues, making the fateful decisions regarding war and peace while at the same time dealing with importunate place hunters thronging the White House. To his rescue, comes John Nicolay, who will become Lincoln's personal secretary and confidant, along with Nicolay's assistant John Hay, another young man who will do yeoman's work for the president. While most of his patronage appointments are well received by the Washington establishment, balancing regional, local, ethnic, political and personal priorities, some turn out to be terrible mistakes that will haunt Lincoln throughout his tenure. All this, while the Fort Sumter crisis simmers ominously.