Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
by Doris Kearns Goodwin 2006 / 917 (755 reading) pgs History

One hundred fifty-six years ago, today, at 10:14 pm. John Wilkes Booth pointed a .41 Deringer at the back of President Lincoln’s head and shot him.  Similarly, the RMS Titanic, which struck an Iceberg at 11:40 pm on the 14th of April, didn’t sink until the 15th of April at 0220; Lincoln died 9 hours later, the 15th of April 1865 at 7:22 am.  As I read about the Assassination, it didn’t dawn that I was reading it on the anniversary.  The death of Lincoln is naturally the final chapter of a book about him.  What a book it is!

            Team of Rivals focuses on Abraham Lincoln’s rise in politics and his ability to use his allies and enemies at their most significant potential. He utilized his storytelling gift by employing the exemplary anecdote that would best illustrate what he means and is trying to convey. He would bring people together and also put them at ease.  Lincoln understood better than most the power and influence he had as President and used every means to defeat the Confederacy and unite the US as one nation.  Using the best people, even his rivalries, in the best positions, Lincoln built an army, rally them around him, and kept the US economy moving forward.   

            Team of Rivals is written in loose chronological order.  It starts with the four main characters that will impact the Lincoln administrations running of the war.  These are three men that all felt they should be the President and all ran against Lincoln in the 1860 election.  William Seward, who would become the Secretary of State.  Salmon Chase, Secretary of the Treasury and then Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.  Judge Edward Bates, Attorney General.  Finally, also a family that was very influential in the mid to late 1800’s, the Blair’s.  Interestingly, this family-owned what is known today as the Presidential Guest House, the Blair House.

            The book details these families, where they come from, what influence they had, and why they felt they should be the Republican nominee for President in 1860.  Once Lincoln won the election, the story naturally moves through the civil war, focusing on the Lincoln administration.  The fight between Gen McClellan and Lincoln on how the war should be conducted is spelled out nicely in this book.  As the war has its ups and downs, it shows the impact it has on Lincoln, and the decisions and the timing for each as Lincoln was a master of political timing.  Naturally, the last chapter is what is already mentioned, the Assassination.

This story is beautifully told and is an outstanding read.  If you want to know the Civil War from the battles and impacts, I would recommend Battle Cry of Freedom.  If you want to know the inside story, read Team of Rivals. It’s not a seriously dense history book. It’s a beautiful story told in a straightforward narration.  Naturally, I would recommend this book!

Enjoy a good cup of coffee and a good book!

Lopaka