He answered:
“Senator, I have reason to believe, from good authority, that the managers of impeachment are confident of success.”
“They have no substantial grounds for such confidence,” I replied.
“I may tell you in confidence,” he then said, “that not only is it expected that Ben. Wade will become President, but the members of his Cabinet have already been selected.”
“Can you tell me, General, who they are to be?” I asked.
“Perhaps I ought not to say,” he replied, “but I will tell you, at least, that General Butler has been designated as Secretary of State.”
I reiterated my belief that the program never would be carried out, whereupon General Grant said:
“You know that people are talking of me for the Presidency at the coming election. I have not had political ambition, but I begin to think that possibly I might be of great service to the country in bringing peace to the disturbed sections of the Union. These men who are counting on the success of impeachment offer me their influence as the nominee to succeed Wade in case he becomes President by the removal of Johnson.”
“What are the conditions?” I asked.
“That I shall agree to take over Wade’s Cabinet.”