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December 03, 2006

Team of Rivals

When questions of presidential greatness are raised, the name of Abraham Lincoln generally winds up in first or second place. Lincoln's ability to hold together a coalition of abolitionists, conservative Republicans, and war Democrats during the American Civil War stands as a signal feat of political dexterity that seems yet more impressive in light of more recent American history.

Team of Rivals, by Doris Kearns Goodwin, tells the story of how Lincoln assembled a Cabinet capable of both performing excellent work in service of the war while simultaneously representing the various political factions of the Union. Even for scholars of Lincoln and the Civil War, Goodwin has done yeoman work in assembling this study of the men who helped save the Union and the man who put them together and kept them from tearing each other apart.

The book initially focuses on the four candidates for the 1860 Republican presidential nomination: William Seward, Salmon Chase, Edward Bates, and Abraham Lincoln. The book reviews the lives of the four men, providing some interesting looks into life in the 19th century and the political scene in mid-19th century America. While Lincoln's story is reasonably well-known, the stories of the other four men and how their lives intertwined is quite fascinating. Of particular interest is the path each of them took to the 1860 convention, and how a little-known Illinois lawyer managed to defeat three far better-known candidates. The answer isn't surprising, but it is very intriguing to read about, particularly as legends of Lincoln tend to downplay the fact of his impressive ambition. The hard work Lincoln and his friends put in to secure him the nomination despite Seward's impressive credentials. Lincoln's work stands in particular contrast to Salmon Chase, who was convinced he was so deserving of the nomination he did nothing to secure it, serene in the knowledge the convention would recognize his greatness.

But the book really hits its stride once Lincoln is elected and he assembles his Cabinet, beginning with his three rivals for the nomination. The contrast is particularly stark with modern politics, where Cabinets are formed from the victor's circle of political allies. Lincoln, on the other hand, selected men who not only wanted the job he held, but who viewed him poorly at best in some cases. It's hard to imagine a modern politician selecting men who viewed him with the kind of contempt Edwin Stanton viewed Lincoln, let alone getting the kind of results Lincoln did. Lincoln's ability to get results from such disparate men is an impressive primer in leadership.

Readers will likely finish "Team of Rivals" with not only increased respect for Lincoln, but with newfound respect for the men of his Cabinet, who deserve great credit for the amazing work they performed in preserving the Union. While I had some small knowledge of men like Seward and Stanton, I had no idea just how much they'd accomplished, let alone the less well-known members of Lincoln's cabinet. Readers will also do well to learn from how Lincoln managed to take a disparate group of people and keep their attentions on what matters despite their internecine squabbling and distractions.

"Team of Rivals" is a terrific read for anyone interested in the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln, politics, American history, or leadership. Kudos to Goodwin for a job well done.