He possessed the knack of surrounding himself with all sorts of agreeable people.

Frederick Frelinghuysen was Secretary of State and Robert Lincoln, continued from the Garfield Cabinet, Secretary of War.

Then there were three irresistibles: Walter Gresham, Frank Hatton and "Ben" Brewster.

His home contingent--"Clint" Wheeler, "Steve" French, and "Jake" Hess--pictured as "ward heelers"-- were, in reality, efficient and all-around, companionable men, capable and loyal.
I was sent by the Associated Press to Washington on a fool's errand--that is, to get an act of Congress extending copyright to the news of the association--and, remaining the entire session, my business to meet the official great and to make myself acceptable, I came into a certain intimacy with the Administration circle, having long had friendly relations with the President.

In all my life I have never passed so delightful and useless a winter.
Very early in the action I found that my mission involved a serious and vexed question--nothing less than the creation of a new property--and I proceeded warily.