Team of Rivals

I just started reading this book, but I do like it. This is a different sort of biography of our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. Kearns Goodwin tells the story of President Lincoln, along with three of his rivals for the 1860 Republican nomination. President Lincoln, showing a genius that I'm sure we won't see in a president again, choose these three men (William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase and Edward Bates) to be members of his administration.

Seward was appointed Secretary of State. Seward was attacked in an assassination attempt on April 14, 1965 -- he was the second of the Lincoln conspirators victims. (Vice President Johnson was the third target, but his attacker lost his nerve.) In a further twist, Seward had numerous American citizens arrested during the Civil War for disloyalty. Many of these citizens were not told why they were arrested and no trials were held. Interesting.

Chase was appointed Secretary of the Treasury. Chase is the coiner of the phrase, "Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Men." He firmly believed in the abolishment of slavery.

Bates, the oldest of the four men, was chosen as Lincoln's Attorney General. Bates served under Lincoln from 1861 to 1864.

The book tells more than I cared to learn about the history of Seward, Chase and Bates, but the rest of the book discussing how they worked together in what was probably our nation's most turbulent times is fascinating.

If you are at all interested in Civil War era -- don't skip reading this book.

Happy Reading!

Labels: Book Review