Team of Rivals
Book recommendation for all history buffs-
Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin
The 1860's represented a fulcrum for the American Republic- Fate seems to have called up the ablest of politicians in Abraham Lincoln to pilot the ship in the darkest storm of our nation's history. By never yielding to the temptation to retaliate and criticize others who often mistreated him, Lincoln won the Republican nomination thru a quirk of timely political intrigues of his opponents. When elected president, Lincoln was besmirched by the Eastern press as unfit for the office. He surprised almost everyone and even went against his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, in requesting, convincing and securing congressional approval for the cabinet of his choosing, which included all three of his defeated political opponents in the Republican nomination.
Even before his inauguration, so many intractable positions were adopted by almost every political faction regarding slavery that Civil War was inevitable. In reality Lincoln believed preservation of the Union more important than the slavery issue. He possessed the intellect and intuition not to advance public policy when it was premature to public opinion and seemed to know the right time and way to lead as evidenced by his Emancipation Proclamation published on January 1, 1863.
The Civil War was more costly in human lives that all of America's other wars combined and its outcome was far from certain during the first two years and without Lincoln's wisdom, determination and magnanimity, America and the world might be very different today.
Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin
The 1860's represented a fulcrum for the American Republic- Fate seems to have called up the ablest of politicians in Abraham Lincoln to pilot the ship in the darkest storm of our nation's history. By never yielding to the temptation to retaliate and criticize others who often mistreated him, Lincoln won the Republican nomination thru a quirk of timely political intrigues of his opponents. When elected president, Lincoln was besmirched by the Eastern press as unfit for the office. He surprised almost everyone and even went against his wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, in requesting, convincing and securing congressional approval for the cabinet of his choosing, which included all three of his defeated political opponents in the Republican nomination.
Even before his inauguration, so many intractable positions were adopted by almost every political faction regarding slavery that Civil War was inevitable. In reality Lincoln believed preservation of the Union more important than the slavery issue. He possessed the intellect and intuition not to advance public policy when it was premature to public opinion and seemed to know the right time and way to lead as evidenced by his Emancipation Proclamation published on January 1, 1863.
The Civil War was more costly in human lives that all of America's other wars combined and its outcome was far from certain during the first two years and without Lincoln's wisdom, determination and magnanimity, America and the world might be very different today.
Labels: Book Review
posted by Thomas D. Harris | 3:53 PM
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