If Lincoln had not died

[Gene C]

Stanton had prepared a sketch or guide for reconstruction since the military would play an important role in restoring civil authority in the seceded states. This had been presented at the last meeting before Lincoln died.

"When the new President again met with his cabinet, on Sunday morning, the sixteenth, Stanton, as was his responsiblity, brought forward the plan of reconstruction he had presented at the last meeting of Lincoln's cabinet"
from "The Life and Times of Lincoln's Secretary of War" by Benjamin Thomas and Harold Hyman p402