Leadership as Romance: Lincoln's Team of Rivals

From a review I wrote of Team of Rivals: the Political Genius of Abraham Lincolnby Doris Kearns Goodwin. News and History )

"Well, aside from that, how did you like the play, Mrs. Lincoln?"

I'm reminded of that old joke, because, aside from the senselessness of his assassination and the tragedy of the Civil War itself, Doris Kearns Goodwin's 2005 biography of Lincoln is really the "feel-good" book of the year.

Biographer Goodwin found a new angle for exploring the familiar territory, opening her lens wide to include Lincoln's cabinet. Suddenly, it's like one of those romantic comedies, where the girl hates the boy at first sight, but he gradually wins her over. Lincoln's that boy, and, as we reach the last chapter, he has won the affection, deep loyalty, or at least the grudging respect of his rivals, opponents, critics, and even of his enemies in the heart of the Confederacy.

Typical of those romantic comedies, there are laughs along the way, as he uses his wiles, humor, and charm to defuse explosions of anger and resentment. There are also tough times, as the war drags on years past its projected end, and newspapers attack Lincoln and his men.

An Illinois boy myself, I've always thought of Lincoln as "my" President. But he won praise even from his enemies. The Charleston Mercury newspaper praised him for gathering about him "the ablest and most earnest men of his country. Where he has lacked in individual ability, learning, experience, or statesmanship, he has collected around him in every department." While cursing him for his actions, the paper grudgingly admits "respect" for him as a ruler, in "appalling" contrast to the Confederate President.

Lincoln's Biography: Sequel in the Works?
As I read, I had an idea for Goodwin's next book. Wouldn't there be a market for a book about leadership and management techniques from Lincoln's examples? The main points might be these: (For examples and quotations, go to the full version of this review at my website.)

• Forgive and forget
  
• A correlary: Replace anguish over unchangeable past with hope in the uncharted future (Goodwin, 521)
  
• Take responsibility for your subordinates' mistakes.
  
• Find the dark lining in a silver cloud, as well as the reverse.
  
• Leaders must educate their followers before asking them to swallow change.
  
• Visit the troops: it's good for them, it's good for the leader.
  
• There's a difference between firmness and obstinance.
  
• Relax with friends and read poetry.
  

Lincoln, Bush, and Newspapers
Aside from these thoughts about leadership, I also saw parallels to President Bush's engagement in Iraq. These are parallels that show how some things never change, regardless of the qualities of leadership in the White House. They incline me to give Bush benefit of more doubt. Here's what I saw:

• Secretary of War Stanton is despised by his critics in much the same way as Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld: "brusque, domineering, and unbearable unpleasant to work with."
  
• To the consternation of critics, the President overrides constitutional protections (503), arguing that his own war powers are justified by the constitution (463).
  
• Likewise, Lincoln defends suspension of habeas corpus (523).
  
• The issue of "unitary executive authority" resting in the President alone and not in his cabinet cropped up in a cabinet brouhaha for Lincoln (491) and more recently in the confirmation hearings for Judge Alito.
  
• After initial enthusiasm, the public and their newspapers are calling for negotiated peace two years into conflict (486).
  
• Just as Vice President Cheney is seen to be the forceful genius behind a mediocre President, Secretary of State Seward was widely believed to be the real President.
  
• Opponents of President Lincoln charged (with justification) that his original objectives for the war had changed. Just like Democrats who voted to give Bush authority to launch attack on Iraq, the "Copperheads" in Congress said that their support of the war had changed because Lincoln had changed the goals (503).
  
• Peace demonstrations disturb Washington (522).

Surprise Ending
The book is long and remarkably fun to read. That's the "romance" at its core. Of course, the ending is a tear-jerker. Knowing all the details, I was still choking up reading it, because by the last chapter, I knew the supporting players as well as the star and the villain.

Leadership as Romance: Lincoln's Team of Rivals | Category: News & History