American Queen

[L Verge]

(10-31-2014 07:39 AM)Gene C Wrote:  So if you compared Mary and Kate - who was more skilled in politics, and who was more influential on a political career? Mary on her husbands, or Kate on her father's?

That's a good question. I'll say Mary. In spite of her personality quirks, Abraham made it to become President. But then in my opinion, she also had the better man to support and encourage.

Kate certainly had her charms and abilities, but I'm not so sure she was the better judge of people, but maybe a bit more discreet than Mary. Anyone recommend a good book about Salmon Chase? (other than Team of Rivals - which is very good)

I had always thought that Kate married Sprague to help get financing for her fathers run for the presidency. Sprague has given me the impression of someone who rose to power and money to quickly and didn't know how to properly deal with it. He let those things control his life, instead of the other way around. He ended up with the usual results.
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Perhaps one singular reason that Sprague turned out to be such a cad is that he was born to the manor - meaning that he was born into wealth and political power because of the hard work of family members who came before. Spoiled rich kid syndrome, IMO. He then lost some wealth because of family infighting, and it didn't help that Kate's half-sister was married to part of the familial enemies.