Lincoln

I recently found a CSPAN ranking where Presidential historians used qualities of presidential leadership: "Public Persuasion," "Crisis Leadership," "Economic Management," "Moral Authority," "International Relations," "Administrative Skills," "Relations with Congress," "Vision/Setting An Agenda," "Pursued Equal Justice for All," and "Performance Within the Context of His Times." Lincoln comes in first followed by Washington, FDR, Teddy Roosevelt and Eisenhower. It's hard to argue with Lincoln as the best President of all time. I wanted to learn more about him as a person and his leadership style leading our country through the most difficult time this country has ever seen.

The Barnes and Noble list I am using, recommends Abraham Lincoln, A Life by Michael Burlingame. I have heard fantastic reviews of Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Team of Rivals as the best Lincoln book. It doesn't make the list has it isn’t a biography. I decided to go against the recommendation and went with Team of Rivals and was not disappointed in my selection.

Team of Rivals tells the story of Abraham Lincoln and his political rivals. William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase, Edwin Stanton and Edward Bates make up this "team". Seward, Chase and Bates sought the 1860 Republican Presidential nomination against Lincoln. 

Prior to reading the book I understood Lincoln's place in history. What I didn't know was his lack of political experience prior to becoming President. Lincoln only served one term as U.S. Rep. I knew Lincoln had participated in the Lincoln-Douglas debates. These debates were between Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas for the Illinois Senate race in 1858. What I didn't realize, Lincoln lost the race.

Lincoln spent time as a lawyer in Illinois in the 1850s. In those days in America, the lawyers and judges traveled the state in what was called a circuit. The lawyers representing both sides and the judge would go to different cities around the state and handle trials. During these days as a traveling lawyer, Lincoln built relationships that helped him during his Presidency.

The battle for the Republican nomination in 1860 was hotly contested between Lincoln, Bates, Seward and Chase. Bates was from St. Louis and  a strong political base. Chase was governor of Ohio from 1856 to 1860. Seward was U.S. Senator from New York in 1849 to 1861. despite Lincoln's lack of political experience, he surprised everyone and secured the nomination.

November 6, 1860
Lincoln and his running mate Hannibal Hamlin won a four battle. Learning about Hamlin being VP was new to me as I had assumed Andrew Johnson was his VP for his entire Presidency.

What Lincoln did next and surprised a lot of people, he named Chase Secretary of Treasury, Bates  Attorney General and Seward Secretary of State. Lincoln added Edwin Stanton as Secretary of War to form the nucleus of his cabinet. These "rivals" of Lincoln helped him make important and difficult decisions during his Presidency. Seward eventually purchased Alaska in 1867 and the term was coined "Seward's folly". 

The election of Lincoln was the catalyst of starting the Civil War and lasted his entire Presidency. 600,000 died in the Civil War, more than all US wars from the Revolutionary to Iraq wars combined. North versus South. Families killing members of their family. It was a horrific time in our history.

Mary Todd, Lincoln's wife was from a wealthy family in Kentucky. The Todd family supported slavery. Mary had several brothers who fought for the Confederate Army and died in action.
Not sure we can understand what Mary went through supporting her husband as he was trying to defeat the Confederacy and ultimately end slavery. Mary at times did not fit in well in the Washington social scene completing her duties as first lady. She went through heartache having three children die including one in the White House. She was with her husband the night he was shot. Her one surviving son had her  institutionalized after her husband died.

January 1, 1863
Lincoln signed Emancipation Proclamation on this day. While it did not free all slaves, it freed a majority of slaves and was a precursor to the 13th Amendment.

November 19, 1863
Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg address which was four and half months after the battle. The speech took place at the dedication of a soldier's cemetery. Its only 271 words and starts with "Four score and seven years ago." A score is 20 years. Therefore four score and seven years equals eighty seven years. In 1863 it had been eighty seven years since the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776.

Choosing of Grant to led the Union

Of all the difficult decisions Lincoln had to make, this possibly may have been the best decision and led to ending of the Civil War. Grant had the reputation of being a drunk. What I learned in reading Ron Chernow's book on Grant, is that these allegations were false. Yes, Grant like dto partake in an adult beverage but he by no means was an alcoholic and terrible general as some historians make him out to be. Lincoln never lots faith in Grant and this decision may have saved the Union.

November 8, 1864: Lincoln easily defeated the Democratic nominee, former General George B. McClellan, by a wide margin of 221-21. During his second inaugural address Lincoln stated, "with Malice toward non; with charity for all". He laid the vision towards a plan for reconstruction.

January 31, 1865: Thirteenth amendment (abolishing slavery) was passed by the House. Lincoln met individually with members of the House. Lincoln's leadership was instrumental in making sure this amendment passed in the Senate as well and was eventually ratified by the states.

April 9, 1865 General Robert E. Lee surrender at Appomattox Court House. I knew Grant and Lee met when Lee surrendered. What I learned from the book was Lincoln's decision to treat Lee and the other Confederate leaders with respect. Lee was expecting to be placed in jail. He was not. Terms of the surrender including the Confederate army agreeing never to take up arms against the United States, they would be allowed to return home. Lincoln realized the difficult road that laid away with reconstruction as the South was devastated with lack of food supply and cities having been burned.

April 14, 1865: Lincoln attended a play at the Ford's theater in Washington D.C. on the night he was shot. This story has been told many times. I have been to the theater when I was in high school and you realize that John Wilkes Booth did not have that far to jump from the balcony to the stage. Booth was the brother of a famous actor Edwin Booth. Lincoln attended quite a few plays and helped him get away from the stress of the war and being President. Being the brother of a famous actor allowed Booth to get access back stage and into the balcony and shoot Lincoln.

I learned in the book that on the night of Lincoln's assassination, there was also a plot to kill Secretary of State Seward and Vice President Andrew Johnson. The man that was to kill Johnson backed out and fled D.C. Seward and his son survived the violent attack. This was part of the master plan to create chaos if three major leaders were killed on the same day less than a week after the war ended. Lincoln died the next day.

It is approaching 154 years since Lincoln was killed. Lincoln's legacy is lasting. 

12 books complete with 6,925 pages read. 32 to go. Up next, Nixon.