Abraham Lincoln (The American Presidents Series: The 16th President, 1861-1865) [Bargain Price] [Hardcover]

George S. McGovern (Author), Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. (Editor), Sean Wilentz (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 23, 2008

America’s greatest president, who rose to power in the country’s greatest hour of need and whose vision saw the United States through the Civil War

Abraham Lincoln towers above the others who have held the office of president—the icon of greatness, the pillar of strength whose words bound up the nation’s wounds. His presidency is the hinge on which American history pivots, the time when the young republic collapsed of its own contradictions and a new birth of freedom, sanctified by blood, created the United States we know today. His story has been told many times, but never by a man who himself sought the office of president and contemplated the awesome responsibilities that come with it.

George S. McGovern—a Midwesterner, former U.S. senator, presidential candidate, veteran, and historian by training—offers his unique insight into our sixteenth president. He shows how Lincoln sometimes went astray, particularly in his restrictions on civil liberties, but also how he adjusted his sights and transformed the Civil War from a political dispute to a moral crusade. McGovern’s account reminds us why we hold Lincoln in such esteem and why he remains the standard by which all of his successors are measured.

George S. McGovern represented South Dakota in the United States Senate from 1963 to 1981 and was the Democratic nominee for president in 1972. He was a decorated bomber pilot in World War II, after which he earned his Ph.D. in American history and government at Northwestern University. A recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, he lives in Mitchell, South Dakota.

Abraham Lincoln, who came into the presidency in the country’s greatest hour of need, towers above the others who have held the office of president—the icon of greatness, the pillar of strength whose words bound up the nation’s wounds. His vision saw the United States through the Civil War. His presidency is the hinge on which American history pivots, the time when the young republic collapsed of its own contradictions and a new birth of freedom, sanctified by blood, created the United States we know today. His story has been told many times, but never by a man who himself sought the office of president and contemplated the awesome responsibilities that come with it.

George S. McGovern—a Midwesterner, former U.S. senator, presidential candidate, veteran, and historian by training—offers his unique insight into our sixteenth president. He shows how Lincoln sometimes went astray, particularly in his restrictions on civil liberties, but also how he adjusted his sights and transformed the Civil War from a political dispute to a moral crusade. McGovern’s account reminds us why we hold Lincoln in such esteem and why he remains the standard by which all of his successors are measured.

"The greatness and imperfections of America's 16th president, captured by a former Democratic nominee for the White House. With considerable skill and insight, McGovern crafts a biography snappy, clear and comprehensive enough to please general readers, students and scholars alike. In eight short chapters, six of which deal with Lincoln's presidency, he nails the essential strengths, flaws, failures and achievements of America's most revered leader."—Kirkus Reviews

"McGovern’s Lincoln is a finely wrought gem. In this small volume McGovern captures Lincoln’s character and leadership strengths better than many weighty tomes. It is a worthy addition to the brilliant American Presidents Series."—Doris Kearns Goodwin

"If you like your biographies very short and sweet with a dash of corrective moralism, you might try George McGovern's Abraham Lincoln, a well-timed entry in Times Books' presidents series, written by the former White House candidate."—David Waldstreicher, The Boston Globe

"Lincoln is one of the few presidents to be claimed by both liberals and conservatives. This volume by the former Democratic presidential candidate (in the American President Series from Times Books, edited by Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. and Sean Willentz) examines Lincoln's record from a liberal point of view, particularly his early and apparent contradictory views on slavery—his platform made clear that his purpose was to contain slavery in the Southern states, not to abolish it. An example: In our 16th president, writes McGovern, 'We see the decency of popular government. Its role, then as now, was, as Lincoln wrote "to elevate the condition of men . . . to afford all an unfettered start in the race of life" . . . To him, democracy was an experiment that the world had not seen before.' Simply put, McGovern makes a convincing case that America's first Republican president was really our first democratic president."—Allen Barra, The Star-Ledger (Newark)

"The greatness and imperfections of America's 16th president, captured by a former Democratic nominee for the White House. With considerable skill and insight, McGovern crafts a biography snappy, clear and comprehensive enough to please general readers, students and scholars alike. In eight short chapters, six of which deal with Lincoln's presidency, he nails the essential strengths, flaws, failures and achievements of America's most revered leader. Born in a Kentucky log cabin, Lincoln was a melancholic who suffered more than his fair share of misfortune. According to McGovern, he nevertheless earned success through his ceaseless hard work, powerful intellect and incomparable abilities as a speechwriter. Lincoln began his political career as a member of the Whig Party. After serving in the Illinois state legislature, he won election to the U.S. Congress in 1846, but lost support by challenging President James Polk on the origins of the Mexican War and lasted only one term. The 1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act, sponsored by Democratic Senator Stephen Douglas, reinvigorated Lincoln's political ambitions. While he believed the Constitution did not allow for abolition in the South, he staunchly opposed the westward expansion of slavery. With the Whig Party split, he joined the new Republican Party in 1856 and ran against Douglas for a Senate seat in 1858. Although he lost this race, Lincoln gained national prominence as a result of his famous debates with Douglas. Two years later, he won the 1860 presidential election, a victory that angered the South and brought about secession and war. What was he like as a wartime president? In three core chapters, McGovern astutely assesses Lincoln's emergence as a commander in chief committed to 'total war.' The author does not shy away from criticizing his subject, particularly for suspending habeas corpus and censoring the press. Still McGovern's overall depiction is one of a complex, tolerant and extraordinary man who simultaneously preserved the Union and transformed the nation. Compact and commanding."—Kirkus Reviews

"Former U.S. senator McGovern—who is also a Ph.D. historian—knows something about presidential leadership and the potential and actual abuses of power that come especially during wartime. In this compact but convincing portrait, he assesses Lincoln's greatness in terms of his ability to use his humble origins, empathy, keen sense of justice, uncommon skill in seeing the essence of an issue, faith in American democracy, gifts of language, and personal self-confidence—all to become a masterly lawyer, a party leader, commander in chief, and a heroic figure with both the vision and the practicality to realize his purposes . . . Given his own politics,

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

There's probably not much left to learn about Lincoln's life, but the flood of bicentennial studies attest that he apparently still has things to teach us. In this modest, fluent bio, part of the American Presidents Series, former Democratic senator and presidential nominee McGovern (Social Security and the Golden Age) finds an inspiring lesson in what a man can do with his life. McGovern's Lincoln is a smart, ambitious striver who overcame humble origins, repeated setbacks and spells of depression. He is an idealist who, though burdened with the racial prejudices of his day, embraced the principle of equal opportunity. Most resonantly for the author, he is a brilliant politician who, combining pragmatism with high purpose, steered a crooked course through ugly political realities to end the intractable curse of slavery. Some of McGovern's judgments, like his overstated depiction of Lincoln as an exponent of "total war," miss the mark, and his subject remains something of a paragon. (His chief complaint is about Lincoln's wartime suspensions of habeas corpus and press freedoms.) Still, when McGovern's lucid homage concludes. "We wish our leaders could be more like Lincoln; we wish we all could be," readers are likely to agree. Photos.
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Review

"A startlingly original and deeply thoughtful analysis of Abraham Lincoln. If you are looking to read just one book on Lincoln, this landmark gem is the one!"--Douglas Brinkley

"A dramatically engaging and intellectually stimulating rendering of the life of our greatest president."--Thomas J. Knock, Southern Methodist University

"McGovern’s Lincoln is a finely wrought gem. In this small volume McGovern captures Lincoln’s character and leadership strength better than many weighty tomes. It is a worthy addition to the brilliant American Presidents Series."--Doris Kearns Goodwin

"Short and sweet… a well-timed entry in Times Books’ presidents series."—Boston Sunday Globe

"Abraham Lincoln is an entry in the highly regarded American Presidents series… A fine read for those who want to know about Lincoln but may not have the time for the more in-depth biographies."—Bookpage

"Compact and commanding… With considerable skill and insight, McGovern… crafts a biography snappy, clear and comprehensive enough to please general readers, students and scholars alike… he nails the essential strengths, flaws, failures and achievements of America’s most revered leader… McGovern’s overall depiction is one of a complex, tolerant and extraordinary man who simultaneously preserved the Union and transformed the nation."—Kirkus Reviews

"McGovern finds an inspiring lesson in what a man can do with his life. McGovern's Lincoln is a smart, ambitious striver who overcame humble origins, repeated setbacks and spells of depression… when McGovern's lucid homage concludes, ‘We wish our leaders could be more like Lincoln; we wish we all could be,’ readers are likely to agree."—Publishers Weekly

"In this compact but convincing portrait, [McGovern] assesses Lincoln’s greatness in terms of his ability to use his humble origins… faith in American democracy, gifts of language, and personal self-confidence… The biography warrants reading to catch the sense of Lincoln’s greatness, both for his own day and ours."—Library Journal

"[A] fine préscis… [McGovern] clearly enunciates the great changes that Lincoln and the war began to effect."— Booklist

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Times Books (December 23, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805083456
• ASIN: B00375LN0Q
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #348,979 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful addition to my Lincoln library, January 1, 2009

By 

Jeff Alexander "Hoosier Daddy" (Greenwood, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Abraham Lincoln (The American Presidents Series: The 16th President, 1861-1865) (Hardcover)

"How do you buy a gift for someone who already has everything?" we often ask. Whenever I pick up a new book about Lincoln, I ask a similar question: "How can anyone write another book about a man who has been the topic of more books than any other human being, save Jesus Christ?" George McGovern shows us how. This easy-to-read and hard-to-put-down 155-page biography of our 16th President, which is another installment from the American Presidents Series, is a wonderful addition to the Lincoln library. Lincoln's entire life story, from his humble Kentucky origins to his leadership of our war-stricken country in the early 1860s to his untimely assassination and death, is laid out in this concise biography. Obviously those who write books on Lincoln have to narrow their focus considerably, especially when having to keep your story to 155 pages, like McGovern did. I appreciate McGovern's editorial emphasis on several aspects of Lincoln's presidency that I have not learned a great deal about through reading other biographies of him, namely, Lincoln's controversial decision to suspend the writ of habeas corpus during war time, his stifling of the disloyal press, and his personal doubts about his chances of being re-elected in 1864. For the more experienced reader of Lincoln, and especially for the novice or beginner, this biography is a delightful read. McGovern successfully reminds us yet again of the greatness of this humble man whom God lifted up to a position of greatness in our land and who will continue to serve as a hero for many more generations to come.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars McGovern's Lincoln, January 19, 2009

By 

Robin Friedman (Washington, D.C. United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Abraham Lincoln (The American Presidents Series: The 16th President, 1861-1865) (Hardcover)

I am writing this review of George McGovern's new short biography of Abraham Lincoln on the eve of the upcoming presidential inauguration. At this time of transition and difficulty, it is fitting to consider our greatest president and the qualities he displayed in uniting and shaping our nation and in bringing about a "new birth of freedom."

McGovern's book is part of the American Presidents series of short biographies of each of our nation's presidents. The late Arthur Schlesinger Jr. was the original editor of the series, which has been carried forward by Sean Willentz. The series offers a way to consider each president, whether famous or little-known, and to reflect upon his accomplishments and on the nature of leadership. Each of the volumes in the series is written by a different scholar in the hope that the writer will bring a unique perspective to bear upon his or her subject. McGovern brings both an extensive political and academic background to his study of Lincoln. McGovern served in the Senate for eighteen years and was the unsuccessful presidential candidate against Richard Nixon in 1972. He also holds a PhD in American history and government from Northwestern University. McGovern acknowledges receiving both research and writing assistance in this book from Larry Mansch of Montana.

McGovern offers a good overview of Lincoln's life and accomplishments. Although he is critical of Lincoln for the suspension of habeas corpus during the Civil War and for other infringements of individual liberty, the tone of the book is otherwise highly laudatory. McGovern describes Lincoln as not only our greatest president but also as "certainly more than that." For McGovern, Lincoln is "an unparallelled national treasure, a legend that best represents the democratic ideal". He continues: "Every generation looks to Lincoln for strength, inspiration, and wisdom. We want to know everything about him, and we wish we could be more like him. Why do we admire him so?" (p.2)In his book, McGovern tries to answer this question.

McGovern proceeds to tell the story of Lincoln's birth in humble circumstances and of his determination to overcome obstacles, including severe instances of depression, and to make his life matter. Throughout his life, Lincoln was a highly ambitious, motivated individual with a drive to succeed. He struggled through a variety of failures, recognized the value of education and personal integrity, and never gave up. More importantly, Lincoln asked difficult searching questions about morality, freedom, slavery, and government and came towards the end of his life to see a spiritual, providential element in human affairs. He acted with courage and resolve and displayed the highest leadership qualities in surmounting the military and political crises that he faced. Lincoln was also a shrewd judge of human nature, a masterful politician, and a lawyer adept at the skills of negotiation and compromise. His was a rare mixture of idealism and pragmatism that is the source, in part, of the many difficulties in interpreting his presidency. He preserved the Union, ended slavery, and put the United States on the long road towards a society in which people of different races enjoyed equality.

For a short book, McGovern gives substantial attention to Lincoln's early years up to his return to politics in 1854 following Congressional enactment of Stephen Douglas's Kansas-Nebraska Act. McGovern also describes succinctly the outbreak of the Civil War following Lincoln's election, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the change in character of the Civil War from a restrained conflict with limited goals to a near "total war". McGovern properly spends a great deal of space on Lincoln's sometimes overlooked role in securing the enactment of the 13th Amendment which banned slavery in the United States. He stresses the mixture of idealism and political cunning in Lincoln's efforts. There is an extensive discussion of the reelection campaign of 1864, in which both Lincoln's renomination by his party and his reelection were substantially in doubt. McGovern properly credits Lincoln and the country for holding a presidential election in the midst of the civil war and its turmoil.

On military matters, McGovern focuses on the seige of Petersburg at the end of the Civil War and of Lincoln's presence during its final days, culminationg with his walk through an abandoned and burned Richmond. McGovern offers a cursory discussion of Lincoln and his generals, with emphasis on the relationship that developed between Lincoln and Grant. The descriptions of the military progress of the war tend to be muddled as McGovern shifts back and forth between the eastern and western theaters and frequently offers a confusing chronology.

With the bicentennial of Lincoln's birth, 2009 will see an unusually large number of books about Lincoln, both popular and scholarly. In short studies of Lincoln, McGovern's book will be compared to a new biography "Abraham Lincoln" (2009) by James McPherson. McPherson, unlike McGovern, is a lifelong scholar of the Civil War and of Lincoln. His eloquent biography consists of 70 pages of text, less than one-half the length of McGovern's book. Compared to McPherson's book, McGovern seems diffuse in places. And McGovern gets some trifling details wrong. (For example, McGovern says that Lincoln was nominated for president on the second ballot at the Republican convention of 1860. It was the third ballot.) For all that, it is a difficult choice between these two books. I wind up leaning towards McGovern because of its personal touches, greater detail, and fuller consideration of Lincoln's character and appeal.

With our nation in the midst of economic and political difficulties, it is inspiring to return to our history and to consider anew Lincoln, leadership, and American ideals. McGovern's book is a good place to start.

Robin Friedman

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the cream rises to the top, January 13, 2009

By 

Richard Cumming "dick" (the heartland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Abraham Lincoln (The American Presidents Series: The 16th President, 1861-1865) (Hardcover)

Senator George McGovern knows more about what it takes to become the President of the United States than you or I. In 1972 the Nixon landslide swept his hopes away but he got closer to being president than any of us ever will.

McGovern is a student of history. He has been part of it - as we prepare to honor Abraham Lincoln on the 200th anniversary of his birth this February we are engulfed by Lincoln books, most of them thick and wordy.

Let's cut to the chase. This addition to the wonderfully compact American President's series is one of the best yet (I have read a dozen of them so far). McGovern makes his understated case that Abe Lincoln was our best president and that nobody else comes even close.

We learn about Abe's evolving and conflicted views of slavery and civil war. We discover why the Emancipation Proclamation was his greatest achievement. We hear the magnificent wordsmith, the greatest speech writer ever to occupy the White House, as we wait for the inauguration of another brilliant orator, another slender guy from Illinois, another relative newcomer to politics, and we savor the exquisite irony that Abe Lincoln made Barack Obama possible.