He served again as Assistant Secretary of State under William M. Evarts from 1877 until his resignation in November 1879 due to illness. Seward was replaced by John Hay, the diplomat who was one of President Lincoln's former private secretaries.
He served as Assistant Secretary of State under William M. Evarts from 1877 until he resigned in November 1879 due to health issues. His position was then taken over by John Hay, a diplomat who had previously worked for President Lincoln.