John Hay

John Milton Hay (1838-1905) was an American diplomat, lawyer, and writer.  He served as President Lincoln's private secretary from 1861-1865.  Serving as Assistant Secretary of State under Rutherford B. Hayes, and later, Secretary of State under William McKinley, his contributions paved the way for the Panama Canal and helped to forge an “Open Door” policy with China. With John G. Nicolay, he authored a ten-volume biography of Lincoln (1890).