Lincoln Sends Senate His Cabinet

Tuesday, March 5, 1861

White House aide John G. Nicolay takes Lincoln Cabinet nominations to the Senate. Outgoing Secretary of War Joseph Holt informs that President that Major Robert Anderson’s position on Fort Sumter is increasingly serious.

The President met with several delegations — including one from Iowa. Charles Aldrich recalled that “there were sixty of seventy gentlemen from our State who had come to be present at the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln. We were all introduced to the President by Josiah B. Grinnell, who seemed to know everybody from our State and also was ell acquainted with the President. This presentation went off quite rapidly; in fact, it was very formal. The President pronounced our names as he took each by the hand and we speedily passed on with those who had gone before. Just ahead of me was a gentleman by the name of George May, a well-known pioneer of Marion County. In his boyhood he had known Mr. Lincoln but he did not expect any recognition on that account. Mr. Lincoln, however, shook his hand and allowed him to pass along, when he turned around, and taken one of his long strides, put his hand upon Mr. May’s shoulder and turned him about. ‘Are you George May, the son of my old friend, (William) May?’ George merely bowed an affirmative assent to this inquiry, but Mr. Lincoln detained him a few seconds, during which time he showered him with a whole lot of questions. ‘When did ou come down, George? How long do you expect to remain? Come around here again before you leave. I want to have a visit with you.’ George blushed like a modest girl and passed on. The politicians who were present and witnessed this little episode were in accord upon the proposition that George May would get whatever he asked for. After the reception was over we were received by Mrs. Lincoln. I believe that we were also presented by Mr. Grinnell. She merely bowed as each name was announced, and that part of the reception was speedily over.”
in Intimate Memories of