Source: Doris Kearns Goodwin. Leadership -
Lessons From the Presidents For Turbulent Times (2018)
Lessons From the Presidents For Turbulent Times (2018)
During the Winter of 1840, Lincoln fell into such a deep depression that friends thought he might kill himself. The economic depression was the cause of Lincoln’s depression, since he had received the bulk of the blame for the state’s debt crisis due to his push for spending on infrastructure. The credit rating of the state of Illinois plummeted, and many people in the state lost their homes and businesses and banks and brokerage houses closed down. Lincoln took responsibility for the state’s financial situation, announcing that he would leave the legislature at the end of the current term. The most troubling thing to Lincoln was the damage done to his reputation. Instead of lifting the burdens of the state’s citizens, he had added to their troubles; that thought consumed Lincoln, and was the major cause of his deep depression.
In the midst of all this, Lincoln broke off his engagement to Mary Todd (who saw him as a rising political star), which was a blow to his private honor. The Todd family (slaveholders in Kentucky) was a connected Whig family, of whom Henry Clay was a frequent guest. Lincoln had wondered about Mary Todd’s up-and-down personality (probably bi-polar disorder), and Lincoln wasn’t entirely sure that his heart was with his hand in marriage. Adding to Lincoln’s malaise was that he wasn’t sure that he could come close to satisfying Mary Todd’s material wants; and so riddled with agitation, Lincoln ended the engagement.
Word of the broken engagement spread throughout Springfield, which added to Mary Todd’s humiliation. Lincoln couldn’t bear that he was responsible for her unhappiness, which combined with his depression over his political career, convinced Lincoln he wasn’t nearly the stand-up guy that he believed he was, at least on important matters. And to make matters even worse for Lincoln, his best friend/confidant told him that he was leaving Springfield. Lincoln’s meltdown at age 32 was so profound (it would prove to be the worst such episode of his life) that doctors believed he was one step away from being committed to an insane asylum.
In the midst of all this, Lincoln broke off his engagement to Mary Todd (who saw him as a rising political star), which was a blow to his private honor. The Todd family (slaveholders in Kentucky) was a connected Whig family, of whom Henry Clay was a frequent guest. Lincoln had wondered about Mary Todd’s up-and-down personality (probably bi-polar disorder), and Lincoln wasn’t entirely sure that his heart was with his hand in marriage. Adding to Lincoln’s malaise was that he wasn’t sure that he could come close to satisfying Mary Todd’s material wants; and so riddled with agitation, Lincoln ended the engagement.
Word of the broken engagement spread throughout Springfield, which added to Mary Todd’s humiliation. Lincoln couldn’t bear that he was responsible for her unhappiness, which combined with his depression over his political career, convinced Lincoln he wasn’t nearly the stand-up guy that he believed he was, at least on important matters. And to make matters even worse for Lincoln, his best friend/confidant told him that he was leaving Springfield. Lincoln’s meltdown at age 32 was so profound (it would prove to be the worst such episode of his life) that doctors believed he was one step away from being committed to an insane asylum.
The desire to achieve something great in history would again come to Lincoln’s rescue, but it would take about a decade to repair his political and personal life. Lincoln was hired as a lawyer, and his role was to impress a jury during a trial with his eloquence, storytelling, and insights. Once steady income was in place, he tried again to woo Mary Todd, and they were married on 4 November 1842. Their marriage would prove to be very high maintenance, especially for Lincoln, but even so he was able to forge close relationships with his sons when they were young, something his father never bothered to do with Lincoln as a boy. It was no small thing that Lincoln had succeeded in creating a foundation for domestic and financial security.
As the economic depression eased, Lincoln’s political ambitions once again grew, and he had his eyes set on being elected to the House of Representatives. By this time there was a formal nomination process in political parties, and Lincoln knew if he could garner the Whig nomination, he would win his Congressional district. The Whigs had a system in which a nominee would only serve one term, and then the next approved Whig in line would serve the next two years, and so on. Lincoln’s “turn” would be in 1846, and knowing that his time was short, Lincoln entered the House chamber with a bang, accusing President James Knox Polk of intentionally provoking war with Mexico.
Lincoln’s desire for widespread public recognition in such a short period of time led to a high level of hatred from the Democrats, but Lincoln had also irritated many of his fellow Whigs. To make matters worse, Lincoln had lost significant support in his district in Illinois, where patriotic support of the war ran very high. In 1848, Lincoln spoke on the House floor in favor of General Zachary Taylor for President, this time distinguishing himself in a positive light with his oratory and storytelling. The Whig power brokers became so enamored with Lincoln that they asked him to stump for Taylor in New England during the Campaign of 1848.
As the economic depression eased, Lincoln’s political ambitions once again grew, and he had his eyes set on being elected to the House of Representatives. By this time there was a formal nomination process in political parties, and Lincoln knew if he could garner the Whig nomination, he would win his Congressional district. The Whigs had a system in which a nominee would only serve one term, and then the next approved Whig in line would serve the next two years, and so on. Lincoln’s “turn” would be in 1846, and knowing that his time was short, Lincoln entered the House chamber with a bang, accusing President James Knox Polk of intentionally provoking war with Mexico.
Lincoln’s desire for widespread public recognition in such a short period of time led to a high level of hatred from the Democrats, but Lincoln had also irritated many of his fellow Whigs. To make matters worse, Lincoln had lost significant support in his district in Illinois, where patriotic support of the war ran very high. In 1848, Lincoln spoke on the House floor in favor of General Zachary Taylor for President, this time distinguishing himself in a positive light with his oratory and storytelling. The Whig power brokers became so enamored with Lincoln that they asked him to stump for Taylor in New England during the Campaign of 1848.
During his campaign travels, Lincoln gained a greater understanding of the feelings towards slavery in New England. In Massachusetts, every campaign discussion centered around slavery, and while in Boston, Lincoln hear and impassioned anti-slavery speech from William Seward, the former governor and future Senator form New York. Lincoln spent a night visiting Seward, and they found that they had common ground on the issue of slavery. After Taylor was elected President, Lincoln went back to the House to finish his term, determined to be heard on the slavery question. Lincoln tried to please both the North and South, and he discovered that he strategy didn’t move the needle at all towards reconciliation.
Upon his return to Illinois, Lincoln believed that President Taylor would reward him with an important appointment. Lincoln especially coveted the sub-Cabinet post of Commissioner of the Land Office that would oversee all federal lands in the western states. However, it turned out that Lincoln’s anti-Polk statements two years earlier led to him being passed over for the posting. Once again, Lincoln slipped into a deep depression, but he kept himself busy by working hard in the law office. While back on the political sidelines, Lincoln was very aware of the shifting/solidifying landscape in the nation concerning slavery, and he adjusted and invested accordingly in order to rejoin the political fray in the (hopefully near) future.
It was during this “in between time” that Lincoln took a good look in the mirror, and he didn’t really like what he saw, which at the age of 40 was an astounding thing to do. While on the legal circuit, Lincoln read as much as he could outside the law in order to better himself. What assisted Lincoln in that endeavor was that he had the gift of breaking down the complex into simpler elements. By 1852, when Clay (a hero to Lincoln), died, slavery had become a the major divisive topic among the lawyers in the circuit with Lincoln. Lincoln was on the circuit when the Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed into law in 1854. To many, popular sovereignty would release slavery from its “Southern Cage”; no longer was slavery perceived to be on the decline as Lincoln had hoped/believed. Lincoln went on a personal learning spree to read/learn all he could about the debate on slavery.
Upon his return to Illinois, Lincoln believed that President Taylor would reward him with an important appointment. Lincoln especially coveted the sub-Cabinet post of Commissioner of the Land Office that would oversee all federal lands in the western states. However, it turned out that Lincoln’s anti-Polk statements two years earlier led to him being passed over for the posting. Once again, Lincoln slipped into a deep depression, but he kept himself busy by working hard in the law office. While back on the political sidelines, Lincoln was very aware of the shifting/solidifying landscape in the nation concerning slavery, and he adjusted and invested accordingly in order to rejoin the political fray in the (hopefully near) future.
It was during this “in between time” that Lincoln took a good look in the mirror, and he didn’t really like what he saw, which at the age of 40 was an astounding thing to do. While on the legal circuit, Lincoln read as much as he could outside the law in order to better himself. What assisted Lincoln in that endeavor was that he had the gift of breaking down the complex into simpler elements. By 1852, when Clay (a hero to Lincoln), died, slavery had become a the major divisive topic among the lawyers in the circuit with Lincoln. Lincoln was on the circuit when the Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed into law in 1854. To many, popular sovereignty would release slavery from its “Southern Cage”; no longer was slavery perceived to be on the decline as Lincoln had hoped/believed. Lincoln went on a personal learning spree to read/learn all he could about the debate on slavery.
In the Fall of 1854, Senator Stephen Douglas returned to Illinois to defend the Kansas-Nebraska Act (of which he was the preeminent champion), which had started many anti-slavery meetings in northern states. Shocked and appalled by the hostility shown towards “his” act, even in Illinois, Douglas scheduled open forums where his goal was to change minds. In a series of debates that presaged 1858, Lincoln and Douglas engaged in giving speeches in the same locations, most famously in Peoria. Lincoln’s storytelling strength plus his depth of knowledge on slavery (and many other things) were greater than Douglas could match. And again presaging 1858, the text of their speeches reached the newspapers in the state for all to read.
The lines were drawn in 1854: Lincoln did not want slavery to expand to the western territories, while Douglas supported slavery’s expansion under the aegis of popular sovereignty. But Lincoln was no Abolitionist, in that he advocated “containing” slavery where it existed. Lincoln viewed the dissolution of the Missouri Compromise via the Kansas-Nebraska Act as an event that could lead to the destruction of the Union. Even those that had heard Lincoln speak for years were beyond-impressed at Peoria; the struggle against the expansion of slavery west to the territories gave him the purpose and focus he needed to re-enter the world of politics.
Ironically, the two moments that greatly enhanced Lincoln’ chances to be elected President were his failures to be “elected” to the Senate in 1855 and 1858 (until the 17th Amendment, Senators were “selected” by state legislatures). In 1855, the state legislature was deadlocked between Lincoln and a Douglas man, and five senators who had broken from Douglas held all the cards in terms of the deciding votes. Lincoln instructed the Whigs to go with their #2 guy who was acceptable to the anti-Douglas legislators, not wanting a Douglas puppet to join Douglas in the US Senate.
In 1858, when Lincoln ran for the Senate against Douglas, it was as a Republican, since the Whigs were no more. Remembering Lincoln’s political sacrifice in 1855, the newly-formed Republicans were all-in with their support of LIncoln, who was very positive and uplifting in his stance against the spread of slavery to the western territories (e.g. “a House Divided . . .”). The nation would read the text of all seven debates between Lincoln and Douglas; Douglas was the name that drew the press to Illinois, but it was Lincoln that stole the show.
The lines were drawn in 1854: Lincoln did not want slavery to expand to the western territories, while Douglas supported slavery’s expansion under the aegis of popular sovereignty. But Lincoln was no Abolitionist, in that he advocated “containing” slavery where it existed. Lincoln viewed the dissolution of the Missouri Compromise via the Kansas-Nebraska Act as an event that could lead to the destruction of the Union. Even those that had heard Lincoln speak for years were beyond-impressed at Peoria; the struggle against the expansion of slavery west to the territories gave him the purpose and focus he needed to re-enter the world of politics.
Ironically, the two moments that greatly enhanced Lincoln’ chances to be elected President were his failures to be “elected” to the Senate in 1855 and 1858 (until the 17th Amendment, Senators were “selected” by state legislatures). In 1855, the state legislature was deadlocked between Lincoln and a Douglas man, and five senators who had broken from Douglas held all the cards in terms of the deciding votes. Lincoln instructed the Whigs to go with their #2 guy who was acceptable to the anti-Douglas legislators, not wanting a Douglas puppet to join Douglas in the US Senate.
In 1858, when Lincoln ran for the Senate against Douglas, it was as a Republican, since the Whigs were no more. Remembering Lincoln’s political sacrifice in 1855, the newly-formed Republicans were all-in with their support of LIncoln, who was very positive and uplifting in his stance against the spread of slavery to the western territories (e.g. “a House Divided . . .”). The nation would read the text of all seven debates between Lincoln and Douglas; Douglas was the name that drew the press to Illinois, but it was Lincoln that stole the show.
Due to the gerrymandering shenanigans by the Democrats in Illinois, despite an overall Republican voter turnout, the Democrats still controlled the state legislature, and therefore who would be “selected” to the Senate. Lincoln trusted that his loss was only a temporary setback, aware that the knowledge of his leadership qualities was spreading fast across the nation. That being said, Lincoln knew he was in the backseat of the party, sitting behind the likes of Seward and Salmon Chase for the Republican nomination in 1860. Lincoln, knowing that his chances were long, nonetheless quietly pursued the nomination.
Lincoln knew that determination combined with humility were key to his chances to steal the nomination. Before the Republican convention started in Chicago, Lincoln worked much harder than any of the other candidates, building political trust and goodwill in the process, and Lincoln believed that he had a chance to win the nomination. Seward was so sure that his nomination was locked up that he was in Europe for eight months before the convention. Lincoln accepted a speaking date in New York City after Chase had declined, and Lincoln tool full advantage of the opportunity in Seward’s home state.
Again, Lincoln stayed consistent, saying that he opposed the spread of slavery to the western territories, but there should be no interference where slavery already existed. In many ways, Lincoln positioned himself as Nixon did in 1968 as the main moderate within the Republican Party, making sure that he wasn’t in the fold of either extreme faction. Lincoln worked hard to get the Illinois convention delegation to unanimously pledge to support him in the upcoming convention. Lincoln wound up winning the nomination on the third ballot, and he made sure to sooth the egos of Seward, Chase et al when he asked them to campaign on his behalf. Lincoln decided to remain in Springfield during the campaign, which was a wise move in that Lincoln knew that anything he said during the campaign would be twisted, and he simply referred all to the Repubican platform. Somewhat reluctantly, Lincoln agreed to provide a biography to introduce himself, so to speak, and it went viral, with “The Rail Splitter” becoming the dominant image. Lincoln was viewed as the “Man of the People”, and he was
elected President at the age of 52.
Lincoln knew that determination combined with humility were key to his chances to steal the nomination. Before the Republican convention started in Chicago, Lincoln worked much harder than any of the other candidates, building political trust and goodwill in the process, and Lincoln believed that he had a chance to win the nomination. Seward was so sure that his nomination was locked up that he was in Europe for eight months before the convention. Lincoln accepted a speaking date in New York City after Chase had declined, and Lincoln tool full advantage of the opportunity in Seward’s home state.
Again, Lincoln stayed consistent, saying that he opposed the spread of slavery to the western territories, but there should be no interference where slavery already existed. In many ways, Lincoln positioned himself as Nixon did in 1968 as the main moderate within the Republican Party, making sure that he wasn’t in the fold of either extreme faction. Lincoln worked hard to get the Illinois convention delegation to unanimously pledge to support him in the upcoming convention. Lincoln wound up winning the nomination on the third ballot, and he made sure to sooth the egos of Seward, Chase et al when he asked them to campaign on his behalf. Lincoln decided to remain in Springfield during the campaign, which was a wise move in that Lincoln knew that anything he said during the campaign would be twisted, and he simply referred all to the Repubican platform. Somewhat reluctantly, Lincoln agreed to provide a biography to introduce himself, so to speak, and it went viral, with “The Rail Splitter” becoming the dominant image. Lincoln was viewed as the “Man of the People”, and he was
elected President at the age of 52.