He had a passion for politics.
He would shine in public life.

If he could not play first fiddle he would take any other instrument.

Thus failing of a Senatorship, he was glad to get the Secretaryship of the Senate, having been Clerk of the House.
He was bound to be in the orchestra.

In those days newspaper independence was little known.

Mr.Greeley was willing to play bottle-holder to Mr.Seward, Mr.Prentice to Mr.Clay.James Gordon Bennett, the elder, and later his son, James Gordon Bennett, the younger, challenged this kind of servility.