Beautiful, intelligent and entrancing, young Kate Chase Sprague stepped into the role of establishing her thrice-widowed father, Salmon P. Chase, in Washington society as a Lincoln cabinet member and as a future presidential candidate. For her efforts, The Washington Star declared her the most brilliant woman of her day. None outshone her.' None, that is, but Mary Todd Lincoln. Though Mrs Lincoln and her young rival held much in common, they could never be friends, for the success of one could come only at the expense of the other.'