At the 1860 Republican National Convention , Cameron controlled the votes of the Pennsylvania delegation . He delivered those votes to Abraham Lincoln for the nomination for President , which was decisive . In return , Lincoln 's managers promised a Cabinet post for Cameron . When Lincoln became President , he reluctantly appointed Cameron Secretary of War . His tenure was marked by allegations of corruption and lax management , and he was forced to resign early in 1862 . His corruption was so notorious that US Representative Thaddeus Stevens ( also from Pennsylvania ) , when asked whether Cameron would steal , said : " I do n't think that he would steal a red hot stove . " ( Cameron demanded Stevens retract this insult . Stevens said to Lincoln " I believe I told you he would not steal a red-hot stove . I will now take that back . " ) Cameron was succeeded as Secretary of War by Edwin Stanton , who had been serving as Cameron 's legal advisor . Cameron then served as Minister to Russia
1860 Republican National Convention
1860 Republican National Convention
Simon Cameron