‘This, then, is a story of Lincoln’s political
genius revealed through his extraordinary array of personal qualities that
enabled him to form friendships with men who had previously opposed him; to
repair injured feelings that, left untended, might have escalated into
permanent hostility; to assume responsibility for the failures of subordinates,
to share credit with ease; and to learn from mistakes. He possessed an acute
understanding of the sources of power inherent in the presidency, an
unparalleled ability to keep his growing coalition intact, a tough-minded
appreciation of the need to protect his presidential prerogatives, and a
masterful sense of timing. His success in dealing with the strong egos of the
men in his cabinet suggests that in the hands of a truly great politician the
qualities we generally associate with decency and morality – kindness,
sensitivity, compassion, honesty, and empathy – can also be impressive
political resources.’
- Doris Kearns
Goodwin
No comments:
Post a Comment