President announces visiting hours from 10 A.M. to 3 P.M. Nicolay to Bates, 31 March 1861, John G. Nicolay Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Again discusses California appointments with Sen. Baker (Oreg.) and James W. Simonton, Washington representative of San Francisco "Bulletin," who opposes Baker. Simonton makes personal remarks about Baker and offends President, who throws Simonton's list of appointments in fire. N.Y. Herald, 31 March 1861; Baltimore Sun, 1 April 1861.

Mrs. Lincoln establishes White House "at home" between 2 and 4 P.M. each Saturday until further notice. Baltimore Sun, 1 April 1861.

President Lincoln writes to Illinois State Auditor Jesse K. Dubois, who is "sorely disappointed" that Lincoln did not name J. P. Luse to head Minnesota's Indian Affairs office. Lincoln explains, "I was . . . sorry . . . at not being able to give Mr. Luce the appointment . . . Of course I could have done it; but it would have been against the united, earnest, and, I add, angry protest of the republican delegation of Minnesota. . . So far as I understand, it is unprecedented, [to] send an officer into a state against the wishes of the members of congress of the State, and of the same party." Jesse K. Dubois to Abraham Lincoln, 27 March 1861, Abraham Lincoln Papers, Library of Congress, Washington, DC; Abraham Lincoln to Jesse K. Dubois, 30 March 1861, CW, 4:302.

Troubled over suggested appointment of "Lizzie" (Elizabeth Todd Grimsley), cousin of Mrs. Lincoln, to Springfield post office, Lincoln writes former law partner, John T. Stuart: "Will it do for me to go on and justify the declaration that Trumbull and I have divided out all the offices among our relatives?" Abraham Lincoln to John T. Stuart, 30 March 1861, CW, 4:303.