Seward : Lincoln's Indispensable Man

From one of our most acclaimed new biographers– the first full life of the leader of Lincoln’s “team of rivals” to appear in more than forty years. William Henry Seward was one of the most important Americans of the nineteenth century. Progressive governor of New York and outspoken U.S. senator, he was the odds-on favorite to win the 1860 Republican nomination for president. As secretary of state and Lincoln’s closest adviser during the Civil War, Seward not only managed foreign affairs but had a substantial role in military, political, and personnel matters. Some of Lincoln’s critics even saw Seward, erroneously, as the power behind the throne; this is why John Wilkes Booth and his colleagues attempted to kill Seward as well as Lincoln. Seward survived the assassin’s attack, continued as secretary of state, and emerged as a staunch supporter of President Andrew Johnson, Lincoln’s controversial successor. Through his purchase of Alaska (“Seward’s Folly”), and his groundwork for the purchase of the Canal Zone and other territory, Seward set America on course to become a world empire. Seward was not only important, he was fascinating. Most nights this well-known raconteur with unruly hair and untidy clothes would gather diplomats, soldiers, politicians, or actors around his table to enjoy a cigar, a drink, and a good story. Drawing on hundreds of sources not available to or neglected by previous biographers, Walter Stahr sheds new light on this complex and central figure, as well as on pivotal events of the Civil War and its aftermath. From one of our most acclaimed new biographersthe first full life of the leader of Lincolns team of rivals to appear in more than forty years. William Henry Seward was one of the most important Americans of the nineteenth century. Progressive governor of New York and outspoken US senator, he was the odds-on favorite to win the 1860 Republican nomination for president. As secretary of state and Lincolns closest adviser during the Civil War, Seward not only managed foreign affairs but had a substantial role in military, political, and personnel matters. Some of Lincolns critics even saw Seward, erroneously, as the power behind the throne; this is why John Wilkes Booth and his colleagues attempted to kill Seward as well as Lincoln. Seward survived the assassins attack, continued as secretary of state, and emerged as a staunch supporter of President Andrew Johnson, Lincolns controversial successor. Through his purchase of Alaska (Sewards Folly), and his groundwork for the purchase of the Canal Zone and other territory, Seward set America on course to become a world empire. Seward was not only important, he was fascinating. Most nights this well-known raconteur with unruly hair and untidy clothes would gather diplomats, soldiers, politicians, or actors around his table to enjoy a cigar, a drink, and a good story. Drawing on hundreds of sources not available to or neglected by previous biographers, Walter Stahrs bestselling biography sheds new light on this complex and central figure, as well as on pivotal events of the Civil War and its aftermath. Elements of a statesman: 1801 to 1830 Who is William H. Seward? 1831-1838 A higher standard of social perfection: 1839-1842 You and I can and must do it: 1843 to 1849 A higher law than the Constitution: 1849-1854 Foremost statesman of the whole north: 1854-1856 Irrepressible conflict: 1857-1859 Lincoln nominated third ballot: 1860 Save the Union in my own way: November 1860 to March 1861 I must do it: March to April 1861 Through the fires of Tophet: 1861 Remove him: 1862 Ask not whether the enemy is near: 1863 Firm and hopeful: 1864 I am not dead: 1865 Political apostasy: 1866 Let us make the treaty tonight: 1867 I'll see you damned first: 1868-69 Nothing remained... but to keep in motion: 1869-72.