Mary's Reputation

[Tom Emery]

I'm with Mike B. on the ambition issue. Normally, I don't like to agree with Herndon, but he was right on his views of Lincoln's ambition.

As far as the Oregon governorship issue, I've also read, and quoted in my research, that position was declined in part due to the poor health of Eddie, their second son. I can't remember the citation off the top of my head; I'll look later on.

I've often wondered how things may have turned out differently if Lincoln had accepted that appointment. Would he have ended up in the White House anyway? Would he have stayed in the West? What would have happened?