Source: Doris Kearns Goodwin. Leadership -
Lessons From the Presidents For Turbulent Times (2018)
Lessons From the Presidents For Turbulent Times (2018)
Lincoln was able to cope with the pressures of office, maintain balance, and to replenish his energy. After the disastrous Congressional Elections of 1862, Lincoln finally removed McClellan from command of the Army of the Potomac. However, General Ambrose Burnside, proved to be a calamitous replacement, as was seen at the Battle of Fredericksburg in December 1862. An absolute blizzard of recrimination hit Lincoln on all sides, and a lack of confidence and despondence was lurking and approaching critical mass in the Union.
What made Lincoln the happiest, providing escapism in tough times, was going to the theater to see a play; Lincoln went to around one hundred plays as President. At the same time, Lincoln used the theater, especially Shakespearean plays, to decipher the problems that faced him. Sometimes Lincoln would awaken John Hay at night to read from Shakespeare, using his incredible mimicry skills to great effect; laughter became a life preserver for the President. Lincoln also lightened his grief by using his pardoning power, looking for any good excuse to save a soldier’s life (e.g. desertion), doing his best to take the perspective of the condemned soldier.
Critics were sure that Lincoln would not follow through on the Emancipation Proclamation, predicting that Union generals would resign en masse and over 100k soldiers would lay down their arms. However, critics didn’t know that keeping his word was a central part of Lincoln’s character, the “chief gem” of which he took great pride. Frederick Douglass, frustrated that Lincoln was moving too slowly in his perspective, stated that Lincoln was not one to go back on his word.
What made Lincoln the happiest, providing escapism in tough times, was going to the theater to see a play; Lincoln went to around one hundred plays as President. At the same time, Lincoln used the theater, especially Shakespearean plays, to decipher the problems that faced him. Sometimes Lincoln would awaken John Hay at night to read from Shakespeare, using his incredible mimicry skills to great effect; laughter became a life preserver for the President. Lincoln also lightened his grief by using his pardoning power, looking for any good excuse to save a soldier’s life (e.g. desertion), doing his best to take the perspective of the condemned soldier.
Critics were sure that Lincoln would not follow through on the Emancipation Proclamation, predicting that Union generals would resign en masse and over 100k soldiers would lay down their arms. However, critics didn’t know that keeping his word was a central part of Lincoln’s character, the “chief gem” of which he took great pride. Frederick Douglass, frustrated that Lincoln was moving too slowly in his perspective, stated that Lincoln was not one to go back on his word.
Lincoln had actually added to the Emancipation Proclamation since September 1862, in that he now included that Free Blacks could serve in the Union Army, believing that the timing was right. Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on 1 January 1863 in front of twelve people, including Seward. Lincoln actually delayed signing his name since he had shaken many hands at the New Years reception at the White House, and he wanted his signature to be bold and decisive. It wasn’t until after 10 pm on New Year's Day 1863 that the assembled Abolitionists in Boston (including Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison) received confirmation via telegram that Lincoln had signed the document.
The jubilation of Boston was not shared in the Border States or in most of the Union. During the time of stalemate in early-1863, the anti-war movement in the Union gained momentum, most famously with the Copperheads (a.k.a. Peace Democrats). However, Lincoln knew that the time was right for a “repurposing” of the Civil War along moral lines. Lincoln had the gift of knowing when to hold back, and when to move forward, and he had seen long ago the inexorable march towards Emancipation.
Lincoln felt that the timing of the Emancipation Proclamation was not too late, or too early, sensing that the time was right in order to sustain critical mass in public opinion in the Union in terms of supporting the proclamation. Lincoln had monitored the press, his Cabinet, and the opinions of soldiers from his visits to the front, and he judged the opposition to the Emancipation Proclamation to be insufficient to block the eventual momentum. Where far too many foresaw Apocalypse, Lincoln saw the birth of a new freedom.
The jubilation of Boston was not shared in the Border States or in most of the Union. During the time of stalemate in early-1863, the anti-war movement in the Union gained momentum, most famously with the Copperheads (a.k.a. Peace Democrats). However, Lincoln knew that the time was right for a “repurposing” of the Civil War along moral lines. Lincoln had the gift of knowing when to hold back, and when to move forward, and he had seen long ago the inexorable march towards Emancipation.
Lincoln felt that the timing of the Emancipation Proclamation was not too late, or too early, sensing that the time was right in order to sustain critical mass in public opinion in the Union in terms of supporting the proclamation. Lincoln had monitored the press, his Cabinet, and the opinions of soldiers from his visits to the front, and he judged the opposition to the Emancipation Proclamation to be insufficient to block the eventual momentum. Where far too many foresaw Apocalypse, Lincoln saw the birth of a new freedom.
Enlistments increased, and Congress passed Lincoln’s war-related bills in the face of Copperhead opposition, including conscription and funding. The Copperheads had moved too fast and were too vocal in their pursuit of a compromise peace, something that Lincoln had anticipated and predicted. It would turn out that the Winter/Spring of 1863 would be the time frame where Lincoln turned the corner on the Civil War.
Lincoln was able to combine transactional and transformational leadership as President. Transactional leadership is practical, often using quid-pro-quo politics. Transformational leadership is inspiring people to act beyond self-interest, to look beyond the present towards a better future; to Lincoln, transactional leadership was the base for the transformational. Lincoln knew his audiences, and he approached Emancipation from transactional and transformational avenues, depending on the group he was trying to persuade. Lincoln’s transformational leadership is best seen from the changed perspectives and morale of the soldiers after the Emancipation Proclamation; soon enough most saw emancipation and the restoration of the Union had become inextricably linked.
Lincoln was accessible and easy to approach, which was seen when he visited the soldiers, sharing the same hardtack and asking about their families, etc. World of Lincoln’s kindnesses and concerns spread throughout the Union Army, which gave Lincoln a similar connection to the soldiers as General George Washington eventually had during the Revolutionary War. In other words, Lincoln’s “Street Cred” with the soldiers was immense.
Lincoln was able to combine transactional and transformational leadership as President. Transactional leadership is practical, often using quid-pro-quo politics. Transformational leadership is inspiring people to act beyond self-interest, to look beyond the present towards a better future; to Lincoln, transactional leadership was the base for the transformational. Lincoln knew his audiences, and he approached Emancipation from transactional and transformational avenues, depending on the group he was trying to persuade. Lincoln’s transformational leadership is best seen from the changed perspectives and morale of the soldiers after the Emancipation Proclamation; soon enough most saw emancipation and the restoration of the Union had become inextricably linked.
Lincoln was accessible and easy to approach, which was seen when he visited the soldiers, sharing the same hardtack and asking about their families, etc. World of Lincoln’s kindnesses and concerns spread throughout the Union Army, which gave Lincoln a similar connection to the soldiers as General George Washington eventually had during the Revolutionary War. In other words, Lincoln’s “Street Cred” with the soldiers was immense.
Blacks signed up for the Union Army by the tens of thousands after 1 January 1863, and even Frederick Douglass had to admit that after meeting with Lincoln about his concerns of discrimination and limitations towards Blacks, Lincoln was truly doing all he could to improve the situation. Over 200k Blacks enlisted in the Union Army, and when given a chance, showed great gallantry and bravery.
Lincoln was able to place the collective interest over self-interest. By May 1864, with the incredibly high casualties from Grant’s efforts against Lee (e.g. the Battle of the Wilderness), once again the cry for peace at any cost gained momentum in the Union, which threatened Lincoln’s re-election. Lincoln decided that he would face electoral defeat rather than to fall back from the Emancipation Proclamation. During the Summer of 1864, the Union regained momentum due to Union victories at Mobile Bay
and Atlanta, and Lincoln’s chances to be re-elected became almost certain.
It was clear to both political parties that the massive soldiers’ vote would heavily influence the election, which led the Democrats to nominate George McClellan, the former commander of the Army of the Potomac. Lincoln was to the point where he would have rather been defeated with the soldiers’ vote than to be re-elected without that vote, such was his connection to the soldiers by the Fall of 1864.Lincoln won re-election in a landslide in the Electoral College (212 - 21), and he took 70% of the soldiers’ vote. In effect, the vote of the soldiers was one of placing the collective good over their own self-interest of going home as soon as possible.
Lincoln was able to place the collective interest over self-interest. By May 1864, with the incredibly high casualties from Grant’s efforts against Lee (e.g. the Battle of the Wilderness), once again the cry for peace at any cost gained momentum in the Union, which threatened Lincoln’s re-election. Lincoln decided that he would face electoral defeat rather than to fall back from the Emancipation Proclamation. During the Summer of 1864, the Union regained momentum due to Union victories at Mobile Bay
and Atlanta, and Lincoln’s chances to be re-elected became almost certain.
It was clear to both political parties that the massive soldiers’ vote would heavily influence the election, which led the Democrats to nominate George McClellan, the former commander of the Army of the Potomac. Lincoln was to the point where he would have rather been defeated with the soldiers’ vote than to be re-elected without that vote, such was his connection to the soldiers by the Fall of 1864.Lincoln won re-election in a landslide in the Electoral College (212 - 21), and he took 70% of the soldiers’ vote. In effect, the vote of the soldiers was one of placing the collective good over their own self-interest of going home as soon as possible.
Secure in knowing he had a second term, Lincoln moved fast to make emancipation formal and nationwide, which meant that an amendment abolishing slavery needed to be proposed and ratified. On 6 January 1865, what would become the 13th Amendment was introduced to both houses, and Lincoln had to use all his transactional and transformational leadership skills to obtain the necessary 2/3’s vote in both houses in order to send it to the states for ratification. Lincoln’s long-desired ambition to make a difference in the history of his nation had come true. So significant was Lincoln’s impact on America is that we look at our nation’s history in two parts, BEFORE Lincoln, and AFTER Lincoln . . .