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Having read Walter Stahr's book Seward: Lincoln's Indispensable Man, it seems Seward aspired to become POTUS several times in his astounding career.

In the 1848 Whig Convention, Seward was divided between wanting the Vice-Presidential position, partly because there was a rivalry between himself and Fillmore. It also appears that after the nomination of Fillmore that Seward wrote to Weed lamenting that he had not pushed himself farther to become Vice President.

There was this one statement in the book during the whole Missouri Compromise followed by Taylor's death that Seward apparetnly saw Fillmore and insisted/advised that he keep all of Taylor's cabinet and also continue with Taylor's policies - none of which Fillmore ended up doing as he appointed his own cabinet. Seward apparently let it be known that if the Whigs had nominated him rather than Fillmore then he would not only be President but would also follow in Taylor's policies, especially regarding the Compromise.

So, how likely is it that Seward could become President, and what would the affects of it be.
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