William Seward's wife, Frances refused to leave home in Albany, New York, so they spent most years corresponding. William was almost always away from home in his career.
At the 1860 Republican Convention, Seward was considered a shoo-in for the presidential nomination of the Republican Party. He was definitely very presidential material. The Republican party was a fusion of Whigs, Western Democrats, Abolitionists, Free Soil and Know-Nothings. And Seward had made plenty of enemies.
To most, he was too strong in his anti-slavery stand. The Abolitionist considered him too moderate. On the third ballot, Ohio's Salmon Chase was offered a position in a Lincoln administration and Lincoln won.
Lincoln was somewhat of a dark horse, but ended up with the nomination. Seward, not happy, but he manned up and campaigned heavily for Lincoln. He spoke on Lincoln's behalf in 15 states and territories and Lincoln carried everyone of those except Missouri.
Abraham Lincoln offered William Seward the job of Secretary of State in his new government. Seward accepted.
--Old Secesh
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