Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

Additional Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln Information

On May 18, 1860, William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase, Edward Bates, and Abraham Lincoln waited in their hometowns for the results from the Republican National Convention in Chicago. When Lincoln emerged as the victor, his rivals were dismayed and angry.

Throughout the turbulent 1850s, each had energetically sought the presidency as the conflict over slavery was leading inexorably to secession and civil war. That Lincoln succeeded, Goodwin demonstrates, was the result of a character that had been forged by experiences that raised him above his more privileged and accomplished rivals. He won because he possessed an extraordinary ability to put himself in the place of other men, to experience what they were feeling, to understand their motives and desires.

It was this capacity that enabled Lincoln as president to bring his disgruntled opponents together, create the most unusual cabinet in history, and marshal their talents to the task of preserving the Union and winning the war.

We view the long, horrifying struggle from the vantage of the White House as Lincoln copes with incompetent generals, hostile congressmen, and his raucous cabinet. He overcomes these obstacles by winning the respect of his former competitors, and in the case of Seward, finds a loyal and crucial friend to see him through.

This brilliant multiple biography is centered on Lincoln's mastery of men and how it shaped the most significant presidency in the nation's history.

What Customers Say About Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln:

It is clearly a result of extensive research and I thank Mrs Goodwin for that. I think it is a wonderful book written carefully and passionately about one of the most important humanitarians of all time.If you are a Lincoln expert, however, I can understand if you find the narrative too romantic. I am interested in the life of Abraham Lincoln ever since my grandfther gave me Gore Vidal's Lincoln about 20 years ago. By myself I would never get to the level of detail on the events that led a defeated Senate candidate to the most grandious Presidency in American history (some may debate my opinion, so give or take top 3).Some critics may say it is biased, that Mrs Goodwin has an agenda to put forward, and so on. Likewise, if you believe the confederates had a better point in the war, you may find the pro-yankee rethoric a bit offensive but, in the author's defense, the book is about the winning side.5 stars, 2 thumbs up, and a standing ovation to Mrs Goodwin for putting this effort through to everyone to enjoy. It was love at first sight. Lincoln's story is so compelling that it is hard to not nurture an extreme simpathy for him.I have read Doris Kearns Goodwin's book within 10 days.

Seward, Stanton, Grant, Hay and Nicolay, and others come off so fine as to motivate further curiosity about them. I chose this because of the story of Obama's reading it and finding things worth emulating, and because it was supposed to be terrific. Lincoln was simply amazing at seeing both details AND the big picture, knowing when and how to be patient, leading to successful timing of actions, and in being able to be secure enough to allow personal affronts if that meant focusing on higher objectives. This one is great.

She used detail, quotes, and observations from what had to have been exhaustive and meticulous learning on her part. I will surely look into her other biographies. In Goodwin's sure hands, the people and times of Lincoln's life flow with terrific clarity. My own biography doubt was thoroughly cured in the reading.

Grant, ". The women and children and families are also important and included and well done, Lincoln's wife Mary, Chase's daughter, Seward's wife, and many others come to mind. I certainly hope so and it is. Others, Chase and McClelland and to some degree Fremont, do not fare so well.

The other people surrounding Lincoln are likewise made so lucidly that it is easy to understand them as humans of mixed qualities and wholeness. In the words of Union General Ulysses S. he seemed to possess more of the elements of greatness, combined with goodness, than any other (man)".

Just the the type of enthusiasm you would imagine she would have for her craft (and a big thrill for me). When I told her that I had, she hung on my every word and began asking me questions. I have to admit, upfront, that my love for Doris Kearns Goodwin is exceeded only by my love for Abraham Lincoln.DKG captures Lincoln's complexity as no one has before, and intimately captures his essence as she has with Johnson, Kennedy, and (most notably)FDR.I had the opportunity to speak with her when she first began writing this book. At that time she had not been to Springfield.

This isn't just a history lesson though, as this book plays out one of the greatest stories of American history and one of the most powerful eras of change in our country, as well as a story of how an unlikely team of political enemies were united toward a common and lofty cause. A great biographical history of the man himself.

Wow. I finished the whole thing in about a week and now I'm shopping for more biographies on Amazon. I'm not a fan of biographies. Tons of information on Lincoln (and the others), but told in a fascinating way. As far as I can tell, this is an outstanding example of the genre. In fact, I don't know that I'd read an entire biography since grade school. However, as began to hear more about Lincoln in the news and saw an interview with Doris Kearns Goodwin on television, I borrowed "Team of Rivals" from my father and went to work.