Thank You, Honest Abe    

   'Deep state' conclusion   

   William Seward's son delivered to Lincoln his father's order that conflicted with the president's order to the warship, Powhatan. Apparently trusting his secretary of state, the president signed the order without reading it.

   Gideon Wells, secretary of the Navy, discovered the ruse and alerted Lincoln. According to history professor Dillon Carroll, the president blamed himself for "carelessness, heedlessness" on his part - he (Lincoln) "ought to have been more careful and attentive." 

   While Lincoln could have chastised, embarrassed and fired his secretary of state, he said that he, "and not his Cabinet," was "in fault for errors imputed to them." The president offered that (what Seward did) was his own embarrassing mix-up. Wow! 

   Says the professor, Lincoln protected his administration, personal reputations of his staff, and he generated loyalty. 

   We know from history that Lincoln met privately with subordinates to reason with them. And he was patient with General McClellan for a year despite his failure to go on offense. 

   He forgave mistakes, lapses in judgment and insubordination, in order to advance his mission. We don't know that Lincoln's example is entirely applicable for today's far different times, as the professor claims. We don't don't if there were qualified people to call upon. Our own civil rebellion was unprecedented.  

   We do know that William Seward's political survival led to one of the most important deals in American history. 

   In 1867, Russian Alaska was known for fish, furs and gold. Also, since Europe meddled in American affairs, might Russia do likewise? 

   As President Andrew Johnson's secretary of state, Seward arranged to buy Alaska for a mere $7.2 million ($113 million in today's money). This enlarged U.S. territory by 20 percent and protected the Oregon Territory. 

   Canada, a colony of the British Empire, was not a factor. Seward didn't even know about Alaska's oil. 

   Americans called the purchase a "folly." Can you imagine the Soviet Union in Alaska, or even Putin's Russia? 

      Jimmy