This -- in addition to being the most arcane, nerdy question I've ever typed -- is the crucial choice Senator Clinton now faces. Seward and Chase shared the indignity of losing their party's nomination to a relatively inexperienced opponent. That opponent, a guy from Illinois named Abraham Lincoln, nonetheless won the presidency and invited both Seward and Chase to join his cabinet.

Both accepted.

Seward shined.

Chase, as best as I can tell, proved to be kind...