Lincoln is probably one of the most interesting people in history. His actions set the foundation for countless leaders since him. I appreciate the author's description of his humble
leadership. Directing actions that others thought they were leading or initiated from them. Fascinating how he masterful he was at this. He made key decisions, knew when and how to
work with others who weren't entirely loyal. But realized their value and kept them involved to affect his goals. He showed tolerance and humility in the most troubled situations.
Several things I learned:
- How his candidacy came about and that all of the Republican candidates didn't attend the convention
- The origins of the Republican party replacing the Whig Party, founded bypass the Northern states with a pillar to abolish slavery
- How the Civil War came about, it was describes as initiated by the Southern States and it appeared not actively addressed by the Northern Generals during the first years of the war
- Lincoln's tolerance of Gen McClellan, Army of the Potomac and Salmon Chase, Secretary of Treasury - he eventually took action but only after significant damage to the administration
- That the mood in the country was that the founding fathers had done all that was required to establish the country that led to a lazy approach to governance resulting in leaders thinking in small terms and focus on petty issues. Sounds familiar. This was evident in the Democratic party and how they "blew their opportunity" with both the 1860 and 1864 convention. Again, sounds familiar.
- Interesting that he used his Presidential War Powers to free slaves by emancipating enemy 'property' seized from victories by the Union Army. Slaves in the North, weren't freed by the Emancipation Proclamation
Good book describing his rise from almost no where to be THE pivotal character in the second chapter of America.