Bruce Vail
Captain
- Joined
- Jul 8, 2015
I've been intrigued for years by the tale that Ben Butler was offered the spot of Vice President on Lincoln's ticket in the 1864 presidential campaign. The "what if" possibilities had Butler become Vice President in early 1865 are a little mind boggling, but I have had a sense there is something wrong in the premise that Butler was ever a real candidate for the job. What do the commenters at CWT think?
I have examined the brief discussion of the offer in Butler's Book and find it very unsatisfying. What have the contmporaries of Lincoln and Butler had to say about the matter in succeeding years? Is Butler's account credible? Are the statements of Simon Cameron credible?
What say you all?
I have examined the brief discussion of the offer in Butler's Book and find it very unsatisfying. What have the contmporaries of Lincoln and Butler had to say about the matter in succeeding years? Is Butler's account credible? Are the statements of Simon Cameron credible?
What say you all?