Team of Rivals

I finally finished Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln, by Doris Kearns Goodwin. It was an immensely readable, enjoyable book, and once again reinforced my belief, which is shared by many, that it was either great luck or divine intervention that we had Lincoln as president during the civil war.

The first third of the book is a detailing of the 1860 presidential race, with biographies of the principle Republican candidates: Lincoln, William Seward, Salmon Chase, and Edward Bates. Lincoln was the darkest of horses, a one-term congressman who had made a name for himself losing a senate race in Illinois, but becoming well-known as an orator. Goodwin describes how Lincoln craftily maneuvered for delegates, and how dumbstruck Seward and Chase were not to get the nomination.

Then Lincoln does the unthinkable--he appoints his vanquished challengers to his cabinet. Over and over again it is demonstrated how Lincoln puts aside grudges for the betterment of the country. Edwin Stanton, who was Lincoln's second Secretary of War, once embarrassed Lincoln when they were both attorneys. But Lincoln harbored no grudge, and came to trust Stanton completely.

Also, Lincoln's virtues as a man shine through: his humor, compassion, intelligence and people skills. I wish I had been able to know him. This book is a must for anyone who enjoys reading about Lincoln or the Civil War.