Existing comment:
The Presidential Staff:
Lincoln ran the war, and his presidency, with a staff of three young men who became his surrogate sons. German-born John Nicolay was a 29-year-old Illinois journalist and aspiring lawyer whom Lincoln made his official secretary. Nicolay convinced the new president that additional help would be required, which led to the appointment of 22-year-old John Hay, a gifted writer whose literary talents were employed in drafting letters for Lincoln to sign. Eventually a third clerk, William Stoddard, was hired to lend a hand with the vest presidential correspondence. |