Meeting Mr Lincoln

[frontrank2]

President Abraham Lincoln sometimes acted as if events and people were beyond his control. In reality, however, President Lincoln exerted extraordinary control over a country, a party, and a government, all of which often seemed to by falling apart.

William O. Stoddard, one of President Lincoln's secretaries, noted that if President Lincoln "met a governor, a general, a foreign diplomat, a visitor of especial distinction, it was out of his power to look upon the great personage before him as other or more or less than a human being like himself or any other man so to be met and spoken to."1 But Stoddard also noted that the President possessed the assurance of his role as the country's "revolutionary dictator." Stoddard wrote that Mr. Lincoln "was ready and willing to use all 'powers given him by his unwritten commission to "See to it that the Commonwealth suffers no harm.'2 That applied to members of Congress and generals in the army. Stoddard described his management of army commanders "as a persistent effort by him to put each man, as nearly as might be, in the place for which he was best fitted and wherein he could perform the most effective service. If, having appointed any man to an especial duty, he found him insufficient for it, he was quite willing to transfer him to another."3
continue reading: http://www.mrlincolnswhitehouse.org/mr-lincoln-observers/meeting-mr-lincoln/

 

[byron ed]

President Abraham Lincoln sometimes acted as if events and people were beyond his control. In reality, however, President Lincoln exerted extraordinary control over a country, a party, and a government, all of which often seemed to by falling apart...

An opening for the Lincoln-as-schemer posse, wait for it...

 

[NH Civil War Gal]

That was a good article! Thanks for posting the link. I really enjoyed this paragraph:

"But he is a man of profound feeling, just and firm principles, and incorruptible integrity. One can always rely upon his motives, and the characteristic gift of this people, a sound common sense, is developed in him to a marvelous degree. If you should sometime find opportunity to read his official papers and his political letters you would find this demonstrated in a manner which would surprise you. I know the man from personal observation as well as anyone and better than most. I am quite familiar with the motives of his policies. I have seen him fight his way heroically through many a terrible battle and work his way with true-hearted strength through many a desperate situation. I have often criticized him severely and subsequently have not infrequently found that he was right. I also understand his weaknesses; they are the weaknesses of a good man.6"​

 

[jackt62]

his management of army commanders "as a persistent effort by him to put each man, as nearly as might be, in the place for which he was best fitted and wherein he could perform the most effective service.

Excellent managerial advice that is just as timely nowadays.

 

[Lubliner]

As placed in the article above, '...events beyond his control...', where there seemed to be no such time, I must admit his ability for self-control was unparalleled. This quality within itself assured him of those later praises even from an enemy (as quoted in the article). I cannot help but recall the multitude of office seekers and artifact collectors at the beginning of his term, and the confusion of mass enthusiasm. One step further was the interactivity of constant inquiries by letters for allowing favors, whether it be a sentence reprieve, or commutation, or an angelic-like messenger such as Mrs. Fremont demanding her husband's argument. The man as President was already riddled by a morose despondency and apparently a chronic depression, and yet he ruled the nation through this turbulent crisis without benefit from his closest loved one. I cannot say enough on the praise he so deserves.
Lubliner.