A particularly well-placed and insightful person close to the powerful of Washington contributed the following observation of disparate views regarding the president: "Visitors to Washington... were struck with the want of personal loyalty to him. They found few senators and representatives who would maintain cordially and positively that he combined the qualifications of a leader in the great crisis; and the larger number of them, as the national election approached, were dissatisfied with his candidacy. An indifference towards him was noted in the commercial centers and among the most intelligent of the loyal people. . . He was thought to be wanting in the style, in the gravity of manner and conversation, which are becoming the chief of the nation. His habit of interrupting the consideration of grave matters with stories was attributed to levity, and offended sober-minded men who sought him on public business… and the objection in general was, that in capacity...(Read Full Article)