[DiogenesLamp]

After the war there was so much more to steal and so many new opportunities. Pre war there was plenty of stealing. The Buchanan Administration featured a parade of Harding era types

I also think Lincoln brought to Washington DC a lot more corrupt men than had ever been there before.

When Thaddeus Stevens complained to President Lincoln about high prices in some war contracts reflecting adversely on Secretary of War Simon Cameron, Lincoln said: "Why, Mr. Stevens, you don't think the Secretary would steal, do you?" The Old Commoner answered, "Well, Mr. President, I don't think he would steal a red-hot stove."

Lincoln liked the joke so much he told it to Cameron, who didn't like it and demanded that Stevens retract it. Stevens went immediately to Lincoln and told him: "I said I did not think Mr. Cameron would steal a red-hot stove. I am now forced to withdraw that statement."

[robowombat]

That is a story that should be true whether it is or not.