If Lincoln had not died

[Bill Richter]

You would be surprised how being or acting the part of a good ole boy fools a lot of fools. An old time ABC newsman, Howard K Smith, who was from New Orleans, once said that when someone says to you with a Southern drawl, "Aw, I'm just a good ole boy and don't know much about that," reach for your wallet. You'll probably find it gone already.

Lincoln, whether one agrees with him or not (and I do not), was merely outwardly dumb--and inwardly sly as a fox. Seward was the first of his cabinet to realize that and became his most loyal advocate and advisor. Others, like Chase and Cameron, the Radical Republicans in Congress, and to a much lesser degree Stanton, never really caught on.

Well, back to the horse and mule corral for this ole cowboy!