Book Review: A Lincoln by Ronald White

When Lincoln finally died after being shot by John Wilkes Booth, his secretary of states Edwin Stanton said, "Now he belongs to the ages."

I spent most of the last week reading the 700 Pages biography of the great man, Abraham Lincoln. On some days, the book was so good I suspended other important tasks to be with Lincoln. Yes, that's what it felt like. It felt like I had a conversation with Lincoln. He was alive. That's the power of books.

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When Lincoln finally died after being shot by John Wilkes Booth, his secretary of states Edwin Stanton said, "Now he belongs to the ages." No better words could have been uttered.

While alive, many of his contemporaries already acknowledged his greatness. Sherman wrote to one of his generals about him "Of all the men I have met, he seemed to possess more of the elements of greatness, combined with goodness, than any other."

Throughout this book, you will read many statements like that. Even his toughest enemies acknowledged his greatness and honesty. He was called many names throughout his life, "Honest Abe," "Father Abraham," and "Mr. Lincoln," amongst others.

Lincoln was a great man not because of his leadership. No, I have come to a different opinion. Lincoln was a great man because of his character, personality, love for others, and ability to communicate with words both in writing and speaking. Yes, he was a great leader—an exceptional one. As I read this book, one challenge that constantly surged through my mind was, "If I was Lincoln, could I have done this?" the answer is no. Take, for instance, the sort of men Lincoln chose to lead at various times. Lincoln had a penchant for giving people so many graces to prove themselves, and even then, he had the emotional intelligence to choose people because of their qualifications. His Secretary of War Department, Edwin Stanton, was a man who despised him. His cabinet comprised all the men who contested against him during the presidential primaries, all of whom were better qualified than him. He knew this. During the second election of his tenure, one man who had criticized him often, Salmon Chase, his cabinet member, decided to contest against him. He was going at Lincoln's back to discredit the President. Eventually, he stepped down, realizing he could not win. Throughout this period, Lincoln did not confront the man or utter any word. After the election victory, Salmon Chase resigned on his own. This is where you see the great Lincoln showing up. Within the next few months, the Supreme Court Chief Justice died, and another replacement was needed. Several people submitted their names for the job, and there was a heavy lobby for different people. Do you know who Lincoln chose for the job? Salmon Chase. The very man who had tried to unseat him. Why did Lincoln do so? Lincoln kept no grudges; he needed a qualified person to do the job. Chase, despite his disregard for Lincoln, was qualified. 

This was not the only time Lincoln would see people for their qualifications. During the war, General Grant was known to be a heavy drinker. So many people were using this to advise Lincoln to change his General. But here's the thing: none of the Generals was delivering victories like Grant. Lincoln refused to change the man. Grant went on to deliver more victories for the Union Armies. 

He would become President someday. 

There are many stories like this of Lincoln using his complete senses, not just emotions, to make decisions.

He was a great man in public, but even in private and to people who had nothing to offer him, Lincoln was kind. Here's a direct quote from the book "Although Lincoln entered Richmond unannounced, the tall man with the silk hat did not go far before the city's black residents recognized him. A woman greeted him. "I know that I am free, for I have seen Father Abraham." Lincoln said to a black man who dropped to his knees, “Don't kneel to me. That is not right. You must kneel to God only and thank Him for the liberty you will enjoy hereafter." With each block, more black residents joined the parade, many coming up to the President to shake his hand or simply touch him."

In another instance, a particular soldier was found guilty of desertion-a treasonable offense punishable by death. He was found guilty at the end of the war. Instead of Lincoln signing his death warrant, Lincoln replied to the General, "He will do us more good above the ground than below the ground." He was not killed.

Earlier in life, when he became a popular figure, he traveled to his home state to deliver a speech; while delivering the speech on stage, one of his childhood friends walked into the room. Right in the middle of his speech, Lincoln pointed at his friend, who was a nobody and called to him, "Oh, there you are, Nathan" and went on to invite Nathan to the stage. Nathan walked to the stage, and they both embraced. Lincoln spent some time introducing his friend.

After his second inaugural address, there was a celebration at the white house, the African American orator Frederick Douglass went to attend, but he was stopped at the gate. This is what followed.

“FREDERICK DOUGLASS, AFTER LISTENING to Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, was determined to attend the inaugural reception that evening at the White House. Thousands of people crowded the streets outside the White House waiting for the gates to open at 8 p.m. Immediately a free-for-all began. William H. Crook, Lincoln’s bodyguard, observed, “The White House looked as if a regiment of rebel troops had been quartered there—with permission to forage.” Lincoln, in the East Room, looking exhausted, prepared to shake the hands of the more than six thousand people who would crowd the reception.

Douglass found himself barred at the door by two policemen. When he protested, they informed him that their “directions were to admit no one of color.” He understood that the old practices were still in effect. Douglass spoke up that there must be some mistake for “no such order could have emanated from President Lincoln.” In order to end the war of words that was blocking the doorway, one officer offered to escort Douglass in. It was not long, however, before Douglass found himself being ushered through a window that had been set up as a short-term exit. Douglass saw the ploy and asked a guest to please tell Mr. Lincoln that he was being held up. The petition reached the President.

All of the handshaking ceased as Frederick Douglass entered the East Room. As he walked in, Lincoln called out, “Here comes my friend Douglass.” Lincoln’s greeting was said in such a loud voice “that all around could hear him.” Taking Douglass by the hand, the President said, “I am glad to see you. I saw you in the crowd today, listening to my inaugural address; how did you like it?”

Douglass replied, “Mr. Lincoln, I must not detain you with my poor opinion, when there are thousands waiting to shake hands with you.”

“No, no,” Lincoln answered, “you must stop a little Douglass; there is no man in the country whose opinion I value more than yours. I want to know what you think of it?”

End of quote.

Many years later, Frederick Douglass said of Lincoln that of all the men he had met, Lincoln was “the first great man that I talked with in the United States freely, who in no single instance reminded me of the difference between himself and myself, of the difference of color.”

Abraham Lincoln was a great man; his deeds have earned him a place amongst the best that walked this earth. This book will show you the man in full. Each of us has something we can learn from Lincoln.