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not do a thing。〃
I had a long and memorable interview with the president。 As I stepped from the crowd in his reception…room； he said to me： 〃What do you want？〃 I answered： 〃Nothing； Mr。 President； I only came to pay my respects and bid you good…by； as I am leaving Washington。〃 〃It is such a luxury；〃 he then remarked； 〃to find a man who does not want anything。 I wish you would wait until I get rid of this crowd。〃
When we were alone he threw himself wearily on a lounge and was evidently greatly exhausted。 Then he indulged； rocking backward and forward； in a reminiscent review of different crises in his administration； and how he had met them。 In nearly every instance he had carried his point； and either captured or beaten his adversaries by a story so apt； so on all fours； and such complete answers that the controversy was over。 I remember eleven of these stories； each of which was a victory。
In regard to this story…telling； he said： 〃I am accused of telling a great many stories。 They say that it lowers the dignity of the presidential office； but I have found that plain people （repeating with emphasis plain people）； take them as you find them； are more easily influenced by a broad and humorous illustration than in any other way； and what the hypercritical few may think； I don't care。〃
In speaking Mr。 Lincoln had a peculiar cadence in his voice； caused by laying emphasis upon the key…word of the sentence。 In answer to the question how he knew so many anecdotes； he answered： 〃I never invented story； but I have a good memory and； I think； tell one tolerably well。 My early life was passed among pioneers who had the courage and enterprise to break away from civilization and settle in the wilderness。 The things which happened to these original people and among themselves in their primitive conditions were far more dramatic than anything invented by the professional story…tellers。 For many years I travelled the circuit as a lawyer； and usually there was only one hotel in the county towns where court was held。 The judge； the grand and petit juries； the lawyers； the clients； and witnesses would pass the night telling exciting or amusing occurrences； and these were of infinite variety and interest。〃 He was always eager for a new story to add to his magazine of ammunition and weapons。
One night when there was a reception at the executive mansion Rufus F。 Andrews； surveyor of the port of New York； and I went there together。 Andrews was a good lawyer and had been a correspondent in New York of Mr。 Lincoln； while he was active at the bar in Illinois。 He was a confidential adviser of the president on New York matters and frequently at the executive mansion。 As the procession moved past the president he stopped Andrews and； leaning over； spoke very confidentially to him。 The conversation delayed the procession for some time。 When Andrews and I returned to the hotel； our rooms were crowded with newspaper men and politicians wanting to know what the confidential conversation was about。 Andrews made a great mystery of it and so did the press。 He explained to me when we were alone that during his visit to the president the night before he told the president a new story。 The president delayed him at the reception； saying： 〃Andrews； I forgot the point of that story you told me last night； repeat it now。〃
While Mr。 Lincoln had the most logical of minds and his letters and speeches on political controversies were the most convincing of any statesman of his period； he rarely would enter into a long discussion in conversation； he either would end the argument by an apt story or illustration enforcing his ideas。
John Ganson； of Buffalo； was the leader of the bar in western New York。 Though elected to the House of Representatives as a Democrat； he supported the war measures of the administration。 He was a gentleman of the old school； of great dignity； and always immaculately dressed。 He was totally bald and his face also devoid of hair。 It was a gloomy period of the war and the reports from the front very discouraging。 Congressman Ganson felt it his duty to see the president about the state of the country。 He made a formal call and said to Mr。 Lincoln： 〃Though I am a Democrat； I imperil my political future by supporting your war measures。 I can understand that secrecy may be necessary in miIitary operations； but I think I am entitled to know the exact conditions； good or bad； at the front。〃
Mr。 Lincoln looked at him earnestly for a minute and then said： 〃Ganson； how clean you shave！〃 That ended the interview。
The first national convention I ever attended was held in Baltimore in 1864； when Mr。 Lincoln was renominated。 I have since been four times a delegate…at…large； representing the whole State； and many times a delegate representing a congressional district。 Judge W。 H。 Robertson； of Westchester County； and I went to the convention together。 We thought we would go by sea； but our ship had a collision； and we were rescued by a pilot boat。 Returning to New York； we decided to accept the security of the railroad。 Judge Robertson was one of the shrewdest and ablest of the Republican politicians in the State of New York。 He had been repeatedly elected county judge； State senator； and member of Congress； and always overcoming a hostile Democratic majority。
We went to Washington to see Mr。 Seward first； had an interview with him at his office； and dined with him in the evening。 To dine with Secretary Seward was an event which no one； and especially a young politician； ever forgot。 He was the most charming of hosts and his conversation a liberal education。
There was no division as to the renomination of Mr。 Lincoln； but it was generally conceded that the vice…president should be a war Democrat。 The candidacy of Daniel S。 Dickinson； of New York； had been so ably managed that he was far and away the favorite。 He had been all his life； up to the breaking out of the Civil War； one of the most pronounced extreme and radical Democrats in the State of New York。 Mr。 Seward took Judge Robertson and me into his confidence。 He was hostile to the nomination of Mr。 Dickinson； and said that the situation demanded the nomination for vice…president of a representative from the border States； whose loyalty had been demonstrated during the war。 He eulogized Andrew Johnson； of Tennessee； and gave a gIowing description of the courage and patriotism with which Johnson； at the risk of his life； had advocated the cause of the Union and kept his State partially loyal。
He said to us： 〃You can quote me to the delegates； and they will believe I express the opinion of the president。 While the president wishes to take no part in the nomination for vice…president； yet he favors Mr。 Johnson。〃
When we arrived at the convention this interview with Mr。 Seward made us a centre of absorbing interest and at once changed the current of opinion； which before that had been almost unanimously for Mr。 Dickinson。 It was finally left to the New York delegation。
The meeting of the delegates from New York was a stormy one and lasted until nearly morning。 Mr。 Dickinson had many warm friends； especially among those of previous