Wikipedia:Today's featured article/requests/William H. Seward

William H. Seward[edit]

This is the archived discussion of the TFAR nomination for the article below. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as Wikipedia talk:Today's featured article/requests). Please do not modify this page unless you are renominating the article at TFAR. For renominations, please add {{collapse top|Previous nomination}} to the top of the discussion and {{collapse bottom}} at the bottom, then complete a new nomination underneath. To do this, see the instructions at {{TFAR nom/doc}}.

The result was: not scheduled by — Crisco 1492 (talk) 08:26, 16 March 2015 (UTC)[reply]
See rationale below

William H. Seward (1801–1872) was United States Secretary of State from 1861 to 1869, and also served as Governor of New York and United States Senator. A determined opponent of the spread of slavery in the years leading up to the American Civil War, he was a dominant figure in the Republican Party in its formative years. Seward's strong stances and provocative words against slavery brought him hatred in the South. Although regarded as the leading contender for the party's presidential nomination in 1860, he was defeated by Abraham Lincoln. Devastated by his loss, he nevertheless campaigned for Lincoln, who was elected, and who appointed him Secretary of State. Seward did his best to stop the southern states from seceding; once that failed, he devoted himself wholeheartedly to the Union cause. His firm stance against foreign intervention in the Civil War helped deter Britain and France from interfering in the conflict and possibly gaining the independence of the Confederate States. He was a target of the 1865 assassination plot that killed Lincoln, and was seriously wounded by conspirator Lewis Powell. Seward remained loyally at his post through the presidency of Andrew Johnson, and was responsible for the Alaska purchase. Leaving office with Johnson in March 1869, Seward embarked on a world tour, and died in 1872. (Full article...)

Most recent similar article(s): Possibly John Tyler if it runs on March 29.
Main editors: Wehwalt
Promoted: 2014
Reasons for nomination:

Support on anniversary of assassination attempt, --Gerda Arendt (talk) 11:01, 28 February 2015 (UTC)[reply]
Support - Interesting article. --BabbaQ (talk) 17:39, 7 March 2015 (UTC)[reply]
Support interesting article, interesting person who was a significant part of the Lincoln cabinet.

I'm going to archive this nomination as unsuccessful. Yes, both Seward and Johnson have major anniversaries, but it doesn't change the fact that they were American politicians active in the same time and are tied together by the assassination of Lincoln. The delegates feel that two such similar articles should not be run right after the other. Seward was chosen for rejection because Johnson's inauguration is thought to be of greater historical importance. (Seward can run next year, though). — Crisco 1492 (talk) 08:26, 16 March 2015 (UTC)[reply]