Meeting Mr. Lincoln: Firsthand Recollections of Abraham Lincoln by People, Great and Small, Who Met the President [Hardcover]

Victoria Radford (Editor, Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1998 | ISBN-10: 1566631998 | ISBN-13: 978-1566631990

Imagine walking into the White House between 1861 and 1865. Would you have been allowed to see the president? With no titles or accolades attached to your name, would he have talked with you? And if so, how would you have felt afterward about his dignity, intelligence, and character? Scores of individuals met President Lincoln and recorded their impressions. In this charming and affecting book, Victoria Radford has selected the most interesting of these recollections, which together add luster to the image of an American icon. “The people who met Abraham Lincoln found in some way a different man than expected,” Ms. Radford writes. “Some people were surprised by his appearance, that this haphazard and untidy man was indeed president. Some were surprised at his generosity, that he would take the time to see them and listen to their stories. Some were surprised by his kindness, that he would offer help and kind words whenever he could. Some were surprised by his compassion and mercy, and some by his simple dignity and grace. And many were surprised at how they felt in Lincoln’s presence, that his sincerity and ease of manner set them at their ease, so that they forgot they were even talking to a president.” Even Lincoln buffs will find Meeting Mr. Lincoln a surprise and delight. Illustrated with photographs and engravings.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"Much has been said and written in regard to Mr. Lincoln's character for kindness," wrote John M. Bullock, who had gone to the White House to plead on behalf of his dying brother, a Confederate prisoner of war.

Before approaching the President I felt a natural diffidence, not to say awe, of the man who was Chief Executive of the nation, commander-in-chief of the army and navy, as well as the man who held the life of my brother in his hand.... The closer I approached the great man, however, the less I feared him, the higher my courage rose; and before the interview was over I was as much at ease with President Lincoln as if talking to my own father.

This is just one of over two dozen firsthand appraisals of Abraham Lincoln collected by Tennessee schoolteacher Victoria Radford. Through other people's eyes, his compassion, dignity, and respect for his fellow men are revealed, even in the midst of leading the United States through the brutal Civil War. Meeting Mr. Lincoln is a slim volume, barely over 100 pages, but a fascinating bit of history.

Review

Endearing...a small gem which will appeal to all readers. (Steven K. Rogstad Lincoln Herald )

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 128 pages
• Publisher: Ivan R Dee (September 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566631998
• ISBN-13: 978-1566631990
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #562,637 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Intimate accounts of personal meetings with Lincoln, August 14, 1999

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This review is from: Meeting Mr. Lincoln: Firsthand Recollections of Abraham Lincoln by People, Great and Small, Who Met the President (Hardcover)

Ms. Radford has allowed us the opportunity to peak in on intimate meetings of individuals with President Lincoln. From statesmen to soldiers, widows to young boys, Americans who had the opportunity to speak firsthand with Abraham Lincoln while he served as President share a common experience. Each felt as if he had the president's undivided attention and utmost respect. If you're looking for a hero, America still has one in Honest Abe. This book is a treat for history buffs.