United States Secretary of State William Seward made an official visit to the Dominican Republic, meeting with Dominican president Buenaventura Báez in Santo Domingo. Báez had returned to power the month before following the Spanish abandonment of the island following the Restoration War. For the next four years, he would advocate United States annexation of his country, notably during the Grant Administration. Secretary Seward promised recognition, closer links, and friendship during this 1866 visit. (By John Osborne)