John G. Nicolay, Mr. Lincoln acquiesced in hiring the youthful graduate of Brown University. In and , Hay served on military missions to South Carolina and Florida and was appointed an army major to investigate an insurrection plot in St.
Cheerful and convivial, cosmopolitan and debonair, his personality meshed easily with that of his more rustic boss, for whom he was almost a surrogate son. He was also a source of humor. A few Invalid soldiers stumped along in the dismal procession. They made a long speech at the President in which they called Intemperance the cause of our defeats. Other observers were less impressed by the arrogance and self-importance of young aide. Hay was smart and knew it.
He was attractive to young women and knew it. He was witty and knew it. Colleague William O. Stoddard recalled an incident interrupted his work to tell a joke. Nicolay heard the laughter and came into the room. The story was as fresh and was even better told that third time up to its first explosive place.
I told him the yarn; he quietly grinned. In public matters the older man reposed in the younger unlimited confidence. Early in the war, he also oversaw White House security. He had soaked up literature and culture at Brown University; he shared with his White House boss a love of poetry and an occasionally melancholy temperament.
Louis when he went to visit his family in Warsaw, 10 miles away. After the Civil War Hay served as a distinguished poet, novelist, journalist, businessman and diplomat, including service as Ambassador to Great Britain and Secretary of State under Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt.
