Lincoln, the unknown

124•LINCOLN THE UNKNOWNThousands of gaunt, desperate men were still looking forwork when Lincoln was inaugurated; and they knew that theRepublicans, coming into power for the first time, would dismissall Democratic office-holders, even down to the ten-dollar-aweekclerks.Scores of applicants were scrambling for every job; and Lincolnhad not been in the White House two hours when he wasoverwhelmed by them. They rushed through the halls; jammedthe corridors; took entire possession of the East Room; and invadedeven the private parlors.Beggars came, importuning him for the price of a lunch. Oneman wanted Lincoln to give him an old pair of pants.A widow came, seeking an appointment for a man who hadpromised to marry her provided she could get him an office thatwould support a family.Hundreds came merely to get his autograph. An Irishwomanwho kept a boarding-house rushed to the White House to imploreLincoln to help her collect a board bill from a governmentclerk.As soon as an office-holder became seriously ill, dozens ofapplicants flocked to Lincoln, asking for the appointment "incase he should die."Every one was armed with testimonials,but of course Lincolncouldn't read a tenth of them. One day when two applicantsfor the same post-office thrust huge bundles of lettersinto his hands he simplified matters by tossing both packagesunopened onto the scales, and appointed the man who had theheavier one.Scores came to see Lincoln again and again, demanding jobsand abusing him savagely because he refused. Many were loaferswithout a shred of merit. One woman came asking for anappointment for her husband, admitting he was too drunk tocome himself.Their sordid selfishness,their voracious greed, appalled Lincoln.They intercepted him on his way to lunch. They rushedup to his carriage as he drove through the streets, presentingtheir credentials, begging for jobs. Even after Lincoln had beenPresident for a year and the nation had been at war for tenmonths, the milling mob still hounded him."Will they never cease?" he exclaimed.The mad onslaught of office-seekers had killed Zachary Taylorbefore he had been President a year and a half. The worry of