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Team of Rivals: the Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin Leadership as Romance (March 2006) "Well, aside from that, how did you like the play, Mrs. Lincoln?" I'm reminded of that old joke, because, aside from the senselessness of his assassination and the tragedy of the Civil War itself, this is really the "feel-good" book of the year. Biographer Goodwin found a new angle for exploring the familiar territory, opening her lens wide to include Lincoln's cabinet. Suddenly, it's like one of those romantic comedies, where the girl hates the boy at first sight, but he gradually wins her over. Lincoln's that boy, and, as we reach the last chapter, he has won the affection, deep loyalty, or at least the grudging respect of his rivals, opponents, critics, and even of his enemies in the heart of the Confederacy. Typical of those romantic comedies, there are laughs along the way, as he uses his wiles, humor, and charm to defuse explosions of anger and resentment. There are also tough times, as the war drags on years past its projected end, and newspapers attack Lincoln and his men. An Illinois boy myself, I've always thought of Lincoln as "my" President. But he won praise even from his enemies. The Charleston Mercury newspaper praised him for gathering about him "the ablest and most earnest men of his country. Where he has lacked in individual ability, learning, experience, or statesmanship, he has collected around him in every department." While cursing him for his actions, the paper grudgingly admits "respect" for him as a ruler, in "appalling" contrast to the Confederate President. As I read, I had an idea for Goodwin's next book. Wouldn't there be a market for a book about leadership and management techniques from Lincoln's examples? The main points might be these: (Page numbers come from the hardback edition, 2005) Forgive and forget Lincoln couldn't forget the public and costly humiliation he suffered from Edwin Stanton, but he overlooked it six years later when he made Stanton Secretary of War, and Stanton became his loyal, ardent friend and servant (175). Other examples include men who cut him or betrayed him once, who, being forgiven, came back to support him when he needed them. We also see times when Lincoln does snap at a subordinate with a cutting remark or abrupt dismissal, and he's quick to come back to apologize and reconcile (512). This contrasts to Salmon Chase and Edwin Stanton, who both bear grudges for years, and never relax (509-10). A correlary: Replace anguish over unchangeable past with hope in the uncharted future (521) Lincoln doesn't dwell on losses. Take responsibility for your subordinates' mistakes. Even as he replaced his first Secretary of War Simon Cameron with Stanton, Lincoln defended him publicly and took the blame for some contracts that Cameron had accepted. He let the world think that Cameron left on his own (413). When Stanton comes under intense fire from the press and from his own fellow cabinet members, Lincoln organizes a rally for Federal employees, where he praises Stanton's good work while taking blame for mistakes (454). Even the foolish and arrogant General George McClellan (who actually retreated when he saw cannon arrayed -- though these turned out to be logs painted black - 428) gets Lincoln's public support and a great deal more patience in private than he deserved. Except for McClellan, Abe's approach again won him loyalty and future assistance from those whom he shielded. Find the dark lining in a silver cloud, as well as the reverse. Noting wild praise for him in newspapers after the Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln keeps his balance, noting that "stocks have declined, and troops come forward more slowly than ever" (483). Weeks later, when the papers and his cabinet are filled with worries, Lincoln notes how legislation had gone his way and how there were signs of other favorable trends, too (504). Leaders must educate their followers before asking them to swallow change. "A man watches his pear-tree day after day, impatient for the ripening of the fruit," Lincoln said, but ripeness can't be forced. Likewise, he watched "this great revolution in public sentiment slowly but surely progressing" (502). Lincoln waited two years to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, facing down impatient Republicans (461), coaxing the slave-owning border states, while perfecting his message in cabinet meetings and awaiting a "propitious moment" (472). An observer at the time noted how Lincoln stayed out of conflicts over "small causes," keeping an eye on broader movements towards his main objectives (472). Lincoln later reflected, "It is my conviction that, had the proclamation been issued even six months earlier than it was, public sentiment would not have sustained it" (502). Visit the troops. Depressed or frustrated, Lincoln would take time out from Washington to make unannounced visits to the troops, always resulting in mutual refreshment. Lincoln rode a horse among the ranks, ungraceful and unable to tip his hat without tangling himself in the reins. A soldier wrote home "that he had to lower his cap over his face 'to cover a smile that overmastered' him at the 'ludicrous sight '" (452). But the troops loved him. Another time, Black soldiers rush the president, "moving him to tears" so "that he could hardly reply" (630). There's a difference between firmness and obstinance. Lincoln would "make up his mind calmly [and] deliberately [and] adhere firmly to his own opinions ...neither to be bullied or cajoled out of them" (451). Reading his draft of the Emancipation Proclamation to his cabinet, Lincoln announced that his resolve was firm to issue it and "he had not called them together to ask their advice," though he was willing to hear suggestions after he had read it aloud (464) . As it turns out, Secretary of State Seward gave him one piece of advice that he hadn't already anticipated, and he took it (467). His critic Frederick Douglass appreciated Lincoln's resolve: Abraham Lincoln may be slow. . . but Abraham Lincoln is not the man to reconsider, retract and contradict words and purposes solemnly proclaimed over his official signautre. ... If he has taught us to confide in nothing else, he has taught us to confide in his word. (483) In fact, Lincoln later adds to the Emancipation Proclamation a line about recruiting Black soldiers at Douglass's suggestion (497). Attorney General Edward Bates criticized Lincoln for lack of "will," especially because any touching story, especially if told by a tearful woman, would convince him to pardon soldiers who were set to be executed for desertion or treason (675). (A clerk overheard Stanton himself, however, sobbing "God help me to do my duty" over one such case, and Goodwin believes that Stanton was "secretly relieved that the President had the ultimate authority") (671). Relax with friends and read poetry. Take care of your own needs. Visiting the troops was good for Lincoln, and he'd simply leave work behind to do it (631). Lincoln made a habit of visiting Secretary Seward's home and literally putting up his feet (506) to tell stories and read poetry aloud. Poems crop up a lot, including excerpts from Shakespeare plays, even on board ship. He made a habit also of taking rides around Washington in a carriage with his wife or with others. Aside from these thoughts about leadership, I also saw parallels to President Bush's engagement in Iraq. These are parallels that show how some things never change, regardless of the qualities of leadership in the White House. They incline me to give Bush benefit of more doubt. Here's what I saw: Secretary of War Stanton is despised by his critics in much the same way as Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld: "brusque, domineering, and unbearable unpleasant to work with." To the consternation of critics, the President overrides constitutional protections (503), arguing that his own war powers are justified by the constitution (463). Likewise, Lincoln defends suspension of habeas corpus (523). The issue of "unitary executive authority" resting in the President alone and not in his cabinet cropped up in a cabinet brouhaha for Lincoln (491) and more recently in the confirmation hearings for Judge Alito. After initial enthusiasm, the public and their newspapers are calling for negotiated peace two years into conflict (486). Just as Vice President Cheney is seen to be the forceful genius behind a mediocre President, Secretary of State Seward was widely believed to be the real President. Opponents of President Lincoln charged (with justification) that his original objectives for the war had changed. Just like Democrats who voted to give Bush authority to launch attack on Iraq, the "Copperheads" in Congress said that their support of the war had changed because Lincoln had changed the goals (503). Peace demonstrations disturb Washington (522). The book is long and remarkably fun to read. That's the "romance" at its core. Of course, the ending is a tear-jerker. Knowing all the details, I was still choking up reading it, because by the last chapter, I knew the supporting players as well as the star and the villain.    How bad was McClellan? Lincoln concludes that McClellan purposefully withheld troops from his rival General Pope at the Battle of Second Bull Run just so that Pope's defeat would enhance his own position. Private Secretary John Hay recalled that Lincoln said "it really seemed to him that McC wanted Pope defeated" at the cost of 16,000 mortalities(475). Yet he writes his wife, "Again I have been called upon to save the country. It makes my heart bleed to see the poor shattered remnants of my noble Army of the Potomac. . . and to see how they love me even now" (480). top

I wrote a six-chapter biography of Lincoln back in the mid-1980s for my students. Chapter one Chapter two Chapter three Chapter four

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