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[Linda Anderson]

Thank you, Trudy for your response on Conrad's book. I have another question for you. Have you read of any reaction Fanny had to Powell's execution? I wonder what seeing him eye to eye on the monitor did to her. Even though she didn't identify him, she must have known it was him because her brother Gus did identify him and the doorman William H. Bell had identified him earlier at General Augur's headquarters.

For that matter, have you read of any of the Sewards' reaction to Powell's execution?

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(01-19-2015 10:50 AM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  

(01-19-2015 10:30 AM)Trudy Krisher Wrote:  However, there is not a SMIDGEN of evidence that I know of that Seward was ever unfaithful to his wife. Although he was gregarious, respected women, and loved socializing, his personal life was completely free of scandal.

This 100% confirms my image and impression of him. Re.: "he loved her very much...and worried about her health" - he seemed rather a rational than a passionate, emotional "lover" and person at all. What would you think he loved more - politics or his wife? (I'm not sure.)

Hi Eva, I have a different impression of Seward. Here's a quote from an 1868 newspaper about Seward's relationship with Olive Risley. There was speculation that Seward would marry Olive. He ended up adopting her so they could travel the world without scandal. Seward was 67 and Olive was 24, a few months older than Fanny would have been if she had lived.

"By October, papers were commenting upon the 'contemplated marriage.' 'He is lonely in his great establishments here and at Auburn,' one paper reported, 'and being an amiable, sportive, frisky, foxy, and infatuating man of fame and place, who would not marry him that was ambitious and the daughter of a politician?'"

From William Henry Seward: Lincoln's Indispensable Man.