Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

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  Lincoln's decision to form a cabinet including his political rivals for the presidency was not a complete success, as Goodwin demonstrates in this carefully researched history. Seward and Stanton became loyal supporters, but Chase remained a divisive, back-biting problem until Lincoln finally had enough -- after many years of Chase campaigning for the presidency behind Lincoln's back. Goodwin's technique of profiling the other politician's careers alongside Lincoln's was a great way to put in... (show more)

  Lincoln's decision to form a cabinet including his political rivals for the presidency was not a complete success, as Goodwin demonstrates in this carefully researched history. Seward and Stanton became loyal supporters, but Chase remained a divisive, back-biting problem until Lincoln finally had enough -- after many years of Chase campaigning for the presidency behind Lincoln's back. Goodwin's technique of profiling the other politician's careers alongside Lincoln's was a great way to put in perspective how remarkable it was that the prairie president achieved what he did with no formal education, no connections and no wealth. Her slavish adoration of Lincoln, and assumption that the reader also considers him a saint, was too much and made me want to find fault with Lincoln. Goodwin's' scholarship is impressive, especially about the presidential conventions and the slavery issues between the Democrats and Republicans. Describing the debates about reconstruction in Congress as the war came to a close, casts a foreboding shadow on the north's jubilation after Lee surrendered, and makes Lincoln's murder even more tragic. The assassination scene brought me to tears, a fitting tribute as we celebrate 200 years since Lincoln's birth this week. (show less)

   

   

  by Abby Gruen on Feb 07, 2009 at 07:00PM

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  Doris Kearns Goodwin has presented us with a phenomenal piece of history. She brings to life Lincoln in an amazingly well-rounded way, and investigates his entire life with equal depth, not just his presidency. Additionally, she also has given us context - her descriptions of 19th century America, the culture of the time, the political movements and the reasons behind them, all serve to put Lincoln's life and decisions in a dazzling perspective, one that's extremely insightful and perhaps e... (show more)

  Doris Kearns Goodwin has presented us with a phenomenal piece of history. She brings to life Lincoln in an amazingly well-rounded way, and investigates his entire life with equal depth, not just his presidency. Additionally, she also has given us context - her descriptions of 19th century America, the culture of the time, the political movements and the reasons behind them, all serve to put Lincoln's life and decisions in a dazzling perspective, one that's extremely insightful and perhaps even shocking. And, true to its title, this book does also delve into the lives and personalities of the other political heavyweights of Lincoln's time. To watch how Lincoln masterly navigates the political and military landscape of his time is to understand what the ideal of a statesman is. So good is this book, I didn't want to finish it. Because the writing is so engrossing, I did not want to experience Lincoln's assassination through Ms. Kearns Goodwin's eyes. (show less)

   

   

  by Facebook-användare on Dec 03, 2009 at 05:23AM

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