Abraham Lincoln Book Shop

I DID visit the Abraham Lincoln Book Shop in Chicago this past weekend. What a treat! What an a experience! I was like a excited little kid in a candy store. Lincoln and Civil War books stacked to the ceiling--and I wanted to see them all.

Sylvia of the Book Shop was there to show me around. She pointed out how the stacks were arranged: books on Lincoln's life, his lawyer days, his youth, the assassination, Civil War books, biographies, rare volumes, and a section with current publications. There were busts, portraits, autographs, and other collectibles for sale. Many of the books for sale were first editions--this isn't your typical neighborhood used-book store!

I roamed this small shop for several hours, just taking in the atmosphere, breathing in the history. For a historian and Lincoln-devotee like myself, this was an afternoon to remember.

I even purchased three books (two of them are 1st editions). This was the first time I have bought first-edition books. I wasn't sure if I was even supposed to read them. I didn't want to break something--I didn't want to wreck their value. But then I figured I would open them, enjoy that old-book smell, and read them anyway. I think Abe would have wanted it that way.

My purchases for the day:
John Duff, A. Lincoln: Prairie Lawyer (1960-1st edition)
William Hesseltine, Lincoln and the War Governors (1948-1st edition)
Lewis Lehrman, Lincoln at Peoria: The Turning Point (2008--just a regular book)

ch.11: Lincoln Leaves Springfield

summary: The days between the election and his journey to Washington were trying times for Lincoln. Taking over the presidency in the midst of a possible Civil War was stressful enough. But Lincoln was also trying to hold his party together, organize a cabinet, deal with potential assassination attempts, and he was leaving the city and the people that he loved (Springfield).

Lincoln also had to be careful in his speeches. Many people were looking for policy directives, which he could not offer. So his speeches were bland and disappointing. But in his defense, he couldn’t say enough to unite the nation—and that’s what many people wanted.

Lincoln was despondent when he left Springfield. He visited his mother for an emotional farewell, and told his law partner Billy Herndon that he would be back to practice “law as if nothing had ever happened.” The farewell speech he gave at the Springfield depot was one of his most moving—especially since we know that he never returned to the town he so admired and loved. There are several versions of his speech, according to Herndon this is the most accurate:

Friends: No one who has never been placed in a like position, can understand my feelings at this hour, nor the oppressive sadness I feel at this parting. For more than a quarter of a century I have lived among you, and during all that time I have received nothing but kindness at your hands. Here I have lived from my youth until now I am an old man. Here the most sacred ties of earth were assumed; here all my children were born; and here one of them lies buried. To you, dear friends, I owe all that I have, all that I am. All the strange, chequered past seems to crowd now upon my mind. To-day I leave you; I go to assume a task more difficult than that which devolved upon General Washington. Unless the great God who assisted him, shall be with and aid me, I must fail. But if the same omniscient mind, and Almighty arm that directed and protected him, shall guide and support me, I shall not fail, I shall succeed. Let us all pray that the God of our fathers may not forsake us now. To him I commend you all--permit me to ask that with equal security and faith, you all will invoke His wisdom and guidance for me. With these few words I must leave you--for how long I know not. Friends, one and all, I must now bid you an affectionate farewell.

Essential Lincoln Books

The Abraham Lincoln Book Shop in Chicago has a list of the "Essential Lincoln Books" on its website. It is a wonderful compilation of 164 Lincoln titles. Please take a look and maybe you will see something that you want to read. Team of Rivals is on the list. In future posts, I will list some of my own favorites.

And by the way, I am going to Chicago this weekend and plan to visit the Abraham Lincoln Book Shop. I can't wait! I already emailed ahead with requests for several books I hope to purchase. I might even try to take a few pictures to post here on the Team of Rivals blog.

ch.10: Forming a Government

summary: Abraham Lincoln was elected president, now came the hard part. The Republican Party, which was officially organized in 1854, was an amalgamation of various old parties and factions: Whigs, Free-Soilers, Know-Nothings, the Liberty Party, antislavery Democrats, anti-Nebraska Democrats, and several others. Lincoln had to form a government and make all these factions relatively happy.

Lincoln also had to form a government while somehow showing northern Republicans that he would uphold the integrity of the party—but he couldn’t simply write off the South with antagonistic cabinet selections and hostile policy initiatives. It was an almost impossible task. John Nicolay’s daughter Helen described Lincoln’s job as “an intensified crossword puzzle in which party loyalty and service, personal fitness, geographical location and a dozen other factors have to be taken into account and made to harmonize.”

But Lincoln not only kept his party together during the “Great Secession Winter” but he also formed a government. He had to negotiate with and cajole Seward and Chase, but they did what was right for the country and joined the cabinet. And in the process, Lincoln held his ground one critical party issue. Writing to Senator Lyman Trumbull Lincoln declaring that, "Let there be no compromise on the question of extending slavery. If there be, all our labor is lost.... The tug has to come, & better now, than any time hereafter."


Other Misc. Points
Soon after his election in November of 1860, Lincoln received a letter from eleven-year-old Grace Bedell of New York. She suggested that the president-elect would look a great deal better with a beard "for your face is so thin." Lincoln answered that he had never worn whiskers before and wondered if "people would call it a piece of silly affection if I were to begin it now?" But within a month of Grace Bedell's letter, he was seen with stubble sprouting from his chin. The United States had never had a bearded president--Lincoln would be the first.

The Lincoln Prize

The Lincoln Prize at Gettysburg College is awarded annually for the finest scholarly work in English on Abraham Lincoln, the American Civil War soldier, or a subject relating to that era. The Prize generally goes to a book, but in some instances can be awarded to an important article or essay. The Prize is intended chiefly to encourage outstanding new scholarship. Team of Rivals won the Lincoln Prize in 2006. The 2009 Lincoln Prize Winners are:

First Place: James McPherson, Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as Commander in Chief and Craig Symonds, Lincoln and His Admirals: Abraham Lincoln, the U.S. Navy, and the Civil War

Honorable Mention: Jacqueline Jones, Saving Savannah: The City and the Civil War; Fred Kaplan, Lincoln: The Biography of a Writer; and William Lee Miller, President Lincoln: The Duty of a Statesman.

ch. 9: Old Abe is Elected!

summary: Comparisons of the 1856 and 1860 electoral maps show what Lincoln had to do to win. In 1856, Republican candidate John C. Fremont (red states) did surprisingly well by gathered 114 electoral votes. But Lincoln would need more--152 to be exact.

It was Illinois, Indiana, and Pennsylvania that the Republicans hoped to gain. That would give Lincoln the majority. And as you can see, Lincoln won those states as well as California, Minnesota , and Oregon.


But it still wasn't easy. No Southern state voted for Lincoln, he wasn't even on the ballot in most of those states. And if the Democratic party has not split and nominated Northern and Southern candidates (Douglas and Breckenridge)--the contest might have been even closer.

Lincoln won with only 40% of the national popular vote. But demographics had really done it for him. The nation was moving North and West and the congressional population numbers, by 1860, had finally gone against the South. For over 70 years, the South had controlled the government because the population had been in their favor. That had now ended.

But instead of accepting their democratic fate, the Southerners decided to leave the Union. This is what the president-elect would have to deal with in March 1861 at his inauguration.

ch.8: Lincoln is Nominated

summary: It would be an understatement to say that things went well for Lincoln in Chicago. He needed some luck, and he got it. He needed his opponents to slip, and they did. Bates, Seward, and Chase had all made enemies in the past, and some of those political fights came back to haunt them at the Wigwam. Lincoln, on the other hand, had situated himself well to be everyone’s second-choice. And it was a brilliant strategy. If one of the leading contenders faltered—even slightly—Lincoln and his managers were ready to take the nomination.

One of the most interesting historical aspects of the 1860 Republican convention is whether Lincoln promised anything for the support of some state leaders. It is clear that Lincoln’s Chicago managers wanted to offer cabinet posts in exchange for delegates in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. But apparently, when telegraphed about this Lincoln replied, “Make no contracts that will bind me.” But did David Davis (shown in picture) and his other managers listen? Davis supposedly said, “Lincoln ain’t here, and don’t know what we have to meet, so we will go ahead, as if we hadn’t heard from him, and he must ratify it.” This may be how Pennsylvanian Simon Cameron made his way into Lincoln’s cabinet.

A Kearns quote near the end of this chapter is probably one of the most vivid and accurate compliments of Lincoln: “In his years of travel on the circuit through central Illinois, engaging people in taverns, on street corners, and in shops, Lincoln had developed a keen sense of what people felt, thought, needed, and wanted.”

ch.7: Countdown to the Nomination

summary: Lincoln was indeed a “dark horse” candidate in 1860, but actually winning the nomination was not an impossibility. He had an outside chance from the beginning if he and his lieutenants did everything well (which they did). Lincoln also had to hope that his rivals made mistakes—which they all did. So Lincoln was lucky to a certain extent. But more importantly, he made the necessary political sacrifices to place himself in a position to succeed if and when Seward and Chase failed:
-He gave speeches whenever and wherever he was asked: Cooper Union in New York City was his best political move.
-He organized well with a stellar political staff.
-He positioned himself as everyone’s second choice so if Seward did falter, he would be there as a viable alternative.
-Chicago was chosen as the convention site. Some luck was involved, but it was stroke of genius by the Lincoln operates to push for the Windy City.

Discussion Questions
1. Think about what Seward, Chase, and Bates did wrong leading up to the 1860 nomination. All three candidates made both large and small mistakes while Lincoln kept forging ahead with a clear plan of action.

2. How does what you know about Lincoln’s character help explain his steady rise to the nomination?

3. Think about Lincoln as a shrewd and crafty politician. Some books refuse to acknowledge his political brilliance thinking it will overshadow his compassion and leadership traits. Was he a shrewd and crafty politician and should we acknowledge that trait? Why or why not?

Cooper Union Links
"The Speech That Made Lincoln President"

Text of the Cooper Union Speech

Good Lincoln Books

Lincoln and His Generals is a wonderful little gem written by T. Harry Williams and published in 1952. It is a concise and clear look at Lincoln actions as commander-in-chief. If you are interested in the war and how Lincoln conducted military affairs, please read this book (although it is hard to find!)

Williams does not get bogged down in military minutia, he concentrates instead on Lincoln's evolving plans and strategies. You will learn about Lincoln, and also better understand Civil War battle tactics. One caveat--you won't be very fond of General George B. McClellan after reading this volume!

I was introduced to Lincoln and His Generals in graduate school (Southern Illinois University) in the early 1980s, and I now re-read it every year. I will probably read it again soon. And better yet, I still have my dog-eared, paperback copy of the 1952 Vintage/Knopf edition, different cover and all (see below).

ch.6: The 1858 Debates

summary: Lincoln’s political career seemed over by 1850, but the Kansas-Nebraska bill and the ensuing sectional dispute offered him fresh opportunities. He became a leader of the new Republican Party in Illinois and was serious contender for a United States senate seat. Lincoln was narrowly denied the nomination in the 1854 senate contest; but as Kearns points out, “Lincoln expressed no hard feelings” after his defeat and his “magnanimity served him well.” In fact, she argues that Lincoln gained friends in defeat—something Seward and Chase had failed to do during their careers.

Lincoln’s chance came again in 1858 when he was the clear choice of the Republicans to face incumbent Democrat senator Stephen A. Douglas. At that time the “Little Giant” from Chicago was one of the most famous men in America—probably the most renown U.S. senator in the nation. And Douglas fully expected to be the Democratic nominee for president in 1860.

Lincoln’s initial strategy was to follow Douglas around and speak after the senator left the stage. Or Lincoln would announce to the crowd that he would speak the next day and answer Douglas’ arguments. There was really no reason for the more famous Douglas to debate or share the stage with the little-known lawyer from Springfield. Douglas could gain little from a series of debates.

But that’s just what happened in the fall of 1858. Douglas, sensing he would win the election anyway, agreed to seven debates around the state of Illinois. Each debate lasted three hours! As many as 15,000 people came to each of these venues. Because of the subjects being discussed and the importance of Illinois in the national electorate—the debates were followed nationwide. The New York media sent reporters and stenographers to record the words of Lincoln and Douglas. These shorthand "words” were wired back east and appeared in the newspapers for all to read.

Douglas won the election (remember, senators were selected by the state legislatures in those days, so Lincoln didn’t stand much of a chance since the statehouse had a Democratic majority); but Lincoln more than held his own against Douglas. And time after time, his arguments and assertions put Douglas on the defensive.

Lincoln had become a national figure, and he made a name for himself. But now what? He still did not hold office. His career appeared to be stalled once again.


Terms
This chapter, instead of Discussion Questions, I am going to post some terms to investigate. Here are five important events/groups of the late 1850s. See if you can find the meaning and significance of each.

1. Dred Scott decision
2. Freeport Doctrine
3. Bleeding Kansas
4. Know-Nothings
5. Sumner caning


Where Lincoln and Douglas debated in the fall of 1858. These towns represented seven of the nine Illinois congressional districts. The candidates decided not to debate in Chicago or Springfield (the two other districts) because they had spoken in each of those cities numerous times already.

ch.5: The 1850s

summary: The United States should have been ecstatic after the territorial gains from the Mexican War. But all it really did was reopen the slavery controversy that had been festering for some time. The 1850s is one of the most fascinating decades in American history. So many things happened; yet it remains difficult to gauge the importance of each event since we know that a Civil War will take place at the end of the decade.

It is clear, however, that one extremely important event was the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854. Of all the divisive things that took place, this was the one that probably caused the most damage (although the misguided Dred Scott decision might make a good case for the top spot). All the efforts to forge a North-South compromise starting in 1820 were swept away by the Kansas-Nebraska legislation. It’s still hard to believe that an otherwise intelligent Stephen Douglas (pictured above) would have thought that simply allowing people in the states to vote slavery up or down would be the answer. But Douglas, like many others, was blindly searching for a solution that might keep the country together.

When reading this chapter, think about how people in each section heard the political rhetoric. How did Southern political demands appear to a Northern farmer or worker? And when a Southerner heard Northern abolitionists talking, what might they have thought?

Discussion Questions
1. What did the South want from the North? And why did Southern demands become more radical as the decade progressed?

2. What was the Fugitive Slave law and why was it so important to each section?

3. How did the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854 change the political situation in the country?

4. How was Lincoln’s career affected by the Kansas-Nebraska bill?

5. Was popular sovereignty a potential solution to the sectional problem? Why or why not?

6. Was this sectional divide inevitable? Why or why not?

ch.4: "Plunder and Conquest"

summary: This short chapter primarily concerns Lincoln’s one term in Congress and the firestorm that surrounded the nation during those two years—the Mexican War. We see that Lincoln was extremely popular with his colleagues, but had some serious political problems with the War (he opposed the war but supported the troops). While he may have been correct that President James K. Polk (pictured on left) started the war solely for conquest (it wouldn’t be last time the United States conquered territory under the guise of democracy); Lincoln was still opposing a popular military action. Many of Lincoln's friends and supporters thought he had wrecked his political career. But the real conflagration started after the War--what to do with these conquered lands. Would slavery be allowed in the new territories or not? This issue ignited an already simmering sectional divide and led directly to the Civil War in 1861—political parties shifted, sectionalism was fortified, and both the North and South began to dig in their heels.

Discussion Questions
1. Why was Lincoln and the Whig Party opposed to the Mexican War?

2. What was Lincoln’s “spot resolution” and what was President Polk's response?

3. Why were American’s generally in support of this war?

4. What was the Wilmot Proviso and why was it so important politically at this time?

5. How were Abe and Mary getting along at this time?

6. We see in this chapter that Seward, Lincoln, and Chase exhibit some real differences on what to do about slavery. How did they differ and why?

Other Misc. Points
-Remember as you read this chapter and the next that Lincoln was basically out of politics for a time. He served one term in Congress and then went back to practicing law. His chances of rising again seemed slim. Some historians suggest that Lincoln was just biding his time. But a more realistic explanation is that Lincoln's political career was nearly over, and he knew it. It would take some major changes to allow him to reemerge as a national figure.

-The map below shows the lands taken during the Mexican War (yellow and light pink). While Texas and the surrounding areas were technically annexed before the conflict, those territorial gains are still considered part of the Mexican War.

ch.3: The Lure of Politics

summary: In chapter 3, we discover how each of the Team of Rival characters climbed the political ladder. The chapter takes us through the mid-1840s. We also learn something about politics and the political system during this time period. Politics was important to many Americans, and as Kearns writes, “for many young men in the nineteenth century, politics proved the chosen arena for advancement." But we must remember some history—politics was reserved for white males. Granted, property qualifications had largely disappeared by the mid-1840s. But women in the United States were not even supposed to be in same room where a political discussion was going on!

What we can also unearth about antebellum politics are the issues—what was important to the voting public in the 1830-1840s? While you are reading, keep an eye out for issues and interests (what groups were for and against certain policies and programs): urban-rural; North-South; etc. These issues will continue to come up in the book. If you remain diligent on this, you can become an antebellum political expert yourself by the time you finish. You will be able to talk to your partner and/or kids about internal improvements, tariffs, panics, and other bygone political topics!

Discussion Questions
1. What are internal improvements and why was that issue so important in the 1830s and 1840s? What part(s) of the country were in favor and what section(s) were opposed? Why?

2. What were some other political issues discussed in this chapter? hint: several were mentioned in Seward’s campaign for governor.

3. What were Lincoln’s three main policy issues: he stressed these three ideas during his early campaigns.

4. What was the protective tariff and why would a politician in 1840 support it?

5. There is a fascinating passage on p.77 (hardback edition) when Seward and his wife traveled to the South. Kearns writes that when “crossing into Virginia, the Seward’s entered a world virtually unchanged since 1800.” Why was the South so economically backward by 1840 while the North was thriving?

6. Why does Kearns spend so much time on Lincoln’s relationships with women? He did appear to have some trouble making up his mind didn’t he? Or was he just a typical young man with the same problems and concerns as young men today? Does the author make too much of Lincoln's relationship woes?

7. Kearns talks about Lincoln’s empathy and what an important trait it was. What does it mean, why might it be important in politics, and why don’t we talk about empathy today? Isn’t it important anymore? Should it be?

8. Toward the end of the chapter, we learn that Chase and Edwin Stanton met and became friends during this period (Stanton will become very important later in the book). It is their correspondence that is fascinating:

-Stanton to Chase: “no living person has been offener in my mind…for, more than once, I have dreamed of being with you."

-Stanton to Chase: your letter “filled my heart with joy; to be loved by you, and to be told that you value my love is a gratification beyond my powers to express.”

There are more of these letters. Why and when do you suppose men stopped writing like this to each other? If these letters were common in the antebellum era (and they were), what might have changed the way men expressed their feelings?

Other Misc. Points
The painting is by George Caleb Bingham (1811-1879). Bingham painted wonderful scenes of everyday life in antebellum America. This 1849 painting is entitled "Country Politician." If you have some time, go online and take a look at some of his other works. There are some very accurate and lively depictions of day-to-day life. I will continue to post some of my Bingham favorites.

Chapters 1 and 2

Chapter 1-summary: Kearns introduces the characters: Lincoln, Seward, Chase, and Bates. All had obvious political strengths and weaknesses, and each believed he could somehow win the 1860 Republican presidential nomination. When reading this chapter, think about each candidate’s political strategy. What did each need to happen in order to win the nomination? And remember, campaigns and conventions haven’t really changed that much. Candidates today need many of the same attributes: good geographical and ideological positioning, party support, background, and some charisma. The primary difference now is the massive amounts of money that candidates must raise.

Discussion Questions
1. When he decided to seek the presidential nomination in 1860, was Lincoln a national figure? Was he the most prominent Republican running for that office?

2. Who was the “favorite” for the 1860 nomination and why?

3. It appears Seward needed a first-ballot victory at the 1860 Chicago convention? What does that mean exactly? We still have political conventions today—when was the last time we witnessed anything but a first-ballot nomination? (Seward's picture is below)

4. What did Seward mean when he referred to a “higher law” concerning slavery? Why did this statement hurt him with Western voters?

5. Why was Lincoln so well-situated to “steal” the 1860 nomination?

6. In February 1860, Lincoln gave his now famous Cooper Union speech in New York City. It was considered a make-or-break moment for his candidacy. Why might it have been so important for Lincoln to deliver a successful speech in that particular venue at that time?

Other Misc. Points
Thurlow Weed: without a doubt, the greatest name in U.S. political history. Wouldn't you all agree?

The photograph of Lincoln above is dated from the summer of 1860. He did not grow his famous beard until after the election.


Chapter 2-summary: Kearns introduces us to the time period (most refer to this era as antebellum America, which literally means 'before the war'). And in order to truly understand these characters, we need to know about the society they lived in. Personal and social issues like family problems, frequent deaths (Salmon Chase lost 3 wives), class conflicts, friendship, love, and relationships—these are all topics that historians now examine in detail. There was a time when the profession did not study these types of subjects. But with more diversity in universities and a new “bottom-up” approach that began in the 1960s, scholars now investigate “regular” people in history, not just elites. And we are all the better for it as we can now understand how people lived, what might have been important to them, and how society itself operated and functioned.

Discussion Questions
1. Why was the West (now the Midwest) so important politically in 1860? How and why did Western interests differ from Eastern and Southern interests? In other words, what did each section care about?

2. Why did so many young men (and families) move West during this era? What was going on in the East that might have helped spur this migration?

3. Why was slavery banned in most of the North after the American Revolution? Why didn’t the Southern states do the same?

4. What was education like in antebellum America? Did everyone get an equal chance?

5. Salmon Chase seems especially tough on himself--even reprimanding himself for reading fiction! Are there hints to his character flaws in this chapter—on how he would get along with others? Think about how he differs from Lincoln, Seward, and Bates.

6. Think about Lincoln’s upbringing and how it compared to the others. What was his childhood like? His education? His family and friends?

7. What traits were young men like Lincoln supposed to have? Did his father care if Abe was educated and a good reader? Why not?

8. During this time period, why did men often sleep together in the same bed? It happened in motels, inns, and even in military barracks. Why did they think it normal in the 1850s while some today wince at the idea? What does that say about historical interpretation?

9. The Lincoln-Ann Rutledge love story—does it seem accurate or could it be a myth? If you have a little extra time you might enjoy reading about this fascinating historical mystery. This article by distinguished historian John Y. Simon is a wonderful examination of the Rutledge controversy. It is well-written and offers insights into how historians investigate these kinds of murky issues. And by the way, I will have more to say about historian John Y. Simon in a later post.

Book of the Year

Team of Rivals:The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin is Concordia's 2009-10 Book-of-the-Year. I am particularly excited because Abraham Lincoln and the U.S. Civil War are topics which I have studied my entire life. In fact, I grew up in Springfield, Illinois-Mr. Lincoln's hometown.

It is with great pleasure that I have been asked to contribute to Concordia's Book-of-the-Year activities. I thought I could best serve by providing readers with historical information about the book and the time period. In addition, I will be using this blog to post questions and chapter summaries that might help initiate discussions both online and around campus.

If you are not already familiar with the life and career of Abraham Lincoln, you are in for a real treat. And the lessons concerning Mr. Lincoln's "political genius" are as relevant today as they were in 1861.

So I hope this blog will help you understand the book just a little better. And please use the comment section of the blog to ask questions, make comments, and start discussions. This might be both fun and educational!