Editing John Hay (section)

===Appointment===
In the post-election speculation as to who would be given office under McKinley, Hay's name figured prominently, as did that of Whitelaw Reid; both men sought high office in the State Department, either as secretary or one of the major ambassadorial posts. Reid, in addition to his vice-presidential run, had been Minister to France under Harrison. An [[asthma]]tic, he handicapped himself by departing for [[Arizona Territory]] for the winter, leading to speculation about his health.{{sfn|Taliaferro|pp=307–11}}

[[File:Mark Hanna by WJ Root, 1896 cropped.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Mark Hanna]]]]
Hay was faster than Reid to realize that the race for these posts would be affected by Hanna's desire to be senator from Ohio, as with one of the state's places about to be occupied by the newly elected [[Joseph B. Foraker]], the only possible seat for him was that held by Senator Sherman. As the septuagenarian senator had served as Treasury Secretary under Hayes, only the secretaryship of state was likely to attract him and cause a vacancy [[United States Senate election in Ohio, 1898#Background and appointment of Hanna|that Hanna could fill]]. Hay knew that with only eight cabinet positions, only one could go to an Ohioan, and so he had no chance for a cabinet post. Accordingly, Hay encouraged Reid to seek the State position, while firmly ruling himself out as a possible candidate for that post, and quietly seeking the inside track to be ambassador in London.{{sfn|Taliaferro|pp=307–11}} Zeitz states that Hay "aggressively lobbied" for the position.{{sfn|Zeitz 2014a|p=323}}

According to Taliaferro, "only after the deed was accomplished and Hay was installed as the ambassador to the Court of St. James's would it be possible to detect just how subtly and completely he had finessed his ally and friend, Whitelaw Reid".{{sfn|Taliaferro|p=310}} A telegraph from Hay to McKinley in the latter's papers, dated December 26 (most likely 1896) reveals the former's suggestion that McKinley tell Reid that the editor's friends had insisted that Reid not endanger his health through office, especially in London's smoggy climes. The following month, in a letter, Hay set forth his own case for the ambassadorship, and urged McKinley to act quickly, as suitable accommodations in London would be difficult to secure. Hay gained his object (as did Hanna), and shifted his focus to appeasing Reid. Taliaferro states that Reid never blamed Hay,{{sfn|Taliaferro|pp=310–13}} but Kushner and Sherrill recorded, "Reid was certain that he had been wronged" by Hay, and the announcement of Hay's appointment nearly ended their 26-year friendship.{{sfn|Kushner & Sherrill|pp=83–84}}

Reaction in Britain to Hay's appointment was generally positive, with George Smalley of ''The Times'' writing to him, "we want a man who is a true American yet not anti-English".{{sfn|Taliaferro|p=314}} Hay secured a Georgian house on Carlton House Terrace, overlooking [[Horse Guards Parade]], with 11 servants. He brought with him Clara, their own silver, two carriages, and five horses. Hay's salary of $17,000{{sfn|Taliaferro|p=315}} "did not even begin to cover the cost of their extravagant lifestyle".{{sfn|Zeitz 2014a|p=323}}