Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This in-depth look into the lives of Lincoln and his closest advisors meets the hype. It tells the life histories of President Lincoln, his attorney general Bates, his treasury secretary Chase, and his secretary of state Seward. All four had a chance of being nominated as the Republican candidate in Chicago, but Lincoln secured the nod. In turn, he placed the other three in his cabinet.
Although their initial impression of Lincoln was that he was a mere “prairie lawyer,” Lincoln soon surpassed their expectations. He earned their respect (even admiration) for his ability to lead the Union during the Civil War with “malice towards none and charity towards all.”
Kearns-Goodwin’s book has won the praise of Barack Obama, who used this book as a template in forming his Cabinet. Indeed, this book provides an excellent study on leadership, as Obama’s support describes. Lincoln took a position of power, effected change, encountered and overcame difficulties, and won the respect of his fellows.
This 1000-page tome tells that tale to a new generation. It deserves to be placed near the front of a long line of Lincoln biographies – near Nicolay and Hay’s 10-volume work and Sandburg’s 4-volume take.