Salmon Chase

[Gene C]

What is your opinion of Salmon Chase, and why?

[Rob Wick]

I like his fish.

Seriously, he was the second-worst cabinet pick Lincoln made because of his disloyalty (first was Simon Cameron for his dishonesty...it was said that the only thing the man wouldn't steal was a red-hot stove).

That said, he was a very effective secretary of the treasury, so some might argue that the latter cancels out the former. I'm not sure.

Best
Rob

[Hess1865]

Well, he did do a lot of wheeling and dealing [some probably questionable] to finance the war...

[Gene C]

In writing about Lincoln's cabinet selections, Benjamin Thomas wrote in his book - Abraham Lincoln,
"Next on Lincoln's list came Salmon P. Chase. Tall, erect, with a finely shaped head and level blue eyes that lent a certain majesty to his appearance, Chase's sterling honesty qualified him for the Treasury. Touchy, ambitious, unbending, he was a leader of the antislavery radicals." (chpt. 12 Peace or a Sword, p.233)

(I had not read this far in the book when I posted the question)

[Thomas Thorne]

Chase brings to mind Churchill's remark about Montgomery--- "indomitable in defeat,insufferable in victory"
Tom

[Jim Garrett]

Chase is certainly one of the less studied of the war cabinet. Either because he was less controversial, or just plain boring. He seems to be notable for three things: 1) financing the war effort, 2) father of Kate, 3) being on the $10,000 bill.

[wsanto]

(11-13-2012 08:37 PM)Jim Garrett Wrote:  Chase is certainly one of the less studied of the war cabinet. Either because he was less controversial, or just plain boring. He seems to be notable for three things: 1) financing the war effort, 2) father of Kate, 3) being on the $10,000 bill.

I never noticed him on the $10,000 dollar bill before. I'll have to check my wallet when I get home.