Team of Rivals:“A Sacred Effort”

Doris KearnsGoodwin

Lincoln was re-elected on November 10, 1864

* Secretary of state was Seward Lafayette

Leadership Role• Lincoln’s established

friendship Seward Lafayette, secretary of state.

• Seward was Lincolns only advisor, was very confident

• Ideas /concerns came to Lincoln he turned to Seward

• Some considered Seward “power behind the throne”, but Seward responded “There is but one vote in the Cabinet and that is cast by the President”

Lincoln’s Partnership Stanton, volatile secretary of war

Stanton controlled Lincoln at times, but it was clear who was in power

“Each could veto the other’s act, but Lincoln was to rule when he felt it necessary”

Dedication to the Leader/Country• Suffered from

asthma – kept him in bed during election

• “keep me alive till this rebellion is over, and then I’ll take a rest”

Lincoln protected his secretary even when criticism was justified

Lincoln stopped others from talk negatively about Stanton

“Go home my friend and read attentively the tenth verse of the thirteenth chapter of Proverbs”

Administration sticking up for teachers

Bates/Lincoln• Bates retired as Attorney

General

• Gratitude to Lincoln:

“Your uniform and unvarying courtesy and kindness during whole time in which we have been associated in the public service. The memory of that kindness and personal favor, I shall bear with me into private life, and hope to retain in my heart, as long as I live.”

• Strong leadership inspires life

Lincolns Strong Leadership impacted Bates Views

• Lincoln asked Bates to speak in 1864 to deliver a legal opinion on the controversial question of the unequal pay scale for black soldiers– Never escaped racial prejudices formed in his earlier

years– However, Lincoln’s leadership influenced Bates to

learn more. From the Dred Scott decision, Bates researched citizenship and concluded that the place of birth, not color of skin, determined citizenship

– Interesting – Lincolns leadership influenced Bates to see beyond prejudice, look at the whole picture

Bates at times did not agree with Lincolns management style, but at the end of his career formed a understanding of Lincolns unique

leadership style

•“Storytelling played a central role in the president’s ability to communicate with the public”

Confident in His Decision• Appointed James

Speed as Attorney General after Bates retirement

• “I should despise myself if I allowed personal differences to affect my judgment of his fitness for the office.”

 Chase appointed as Chief-Justice

• Lincoln was confident that Chase would help secure the rights of the black man, for which he had fought throughout his career, a belief that outweighed concerns about Chase’s restless temperament

Mary Lincoln/Family•   took pleasure in his victory, in debt• Started the new rule of etiquette for

visitors at public receptions in White House• Still grieving over son “Willie”• Did not want son, “Robert,” to enter war• Lincoln wrote a letter to Attorney General

asking if son could go in military with nominal ranks…Robert became captain..very popular

Lincoln Paid Tribute • Sherman's March to the Sea - capture

of Savannah --- this still haunts civilians to this day

• General George Thomas – defeated Hood’s forces at Nashville

• Navy/Army - fall of Fort Fisher, Wilmington NC

13th Amendment• January passage of

13th amend., abolish slavery

• Went to James Rollin to make an appeal to vote for 13th amend.

• 1865 – put dramatic change to end slavery

Francis Preston Blair• Visited Jefferson Davis, confederate

president• Blair proposed that Davis end slavery• Proposed to end southern independence• Combine North and South to drive French

out of Mexico (said north/south were two countries)

• Lincoln did not like, sent Blair back to report the securing peace to all as one country…not two….

Hampton Road Conference • Representing the US

gov’t = Lincoln and Seward

• Representing Confederate State of America = Alexander Stephens (VP), Robert M.Y. Hunter (Senator), and John Campbell (Assistant Secretary of War)

• Unsuccessful effort to negotiate an end to American Civil War

• Lasted four hours• NO agreements

made• The war continued

Lincoln’s Requests• “Voluntary

abolition of slavery by the states”

• Refused treaty with Confederate Gov’t

• Would not weaken the Emancipation

Proclamation • Complete restoration of

Union --- or war continues

• Not to have joint attack on the

French in Mexico

Lincoln depressed over John Yates Beall

• Former Confederate captain who was tried/found guilty as a spy

• Pending execution• Lincoln felt compelled to stand by

General John A. Dix, even though it troubled

him so of convicting Beall.

March 4• Estimated fifty thousand citizens

gathered at Capitol to witness the inauguration

• Fused spiritual faith with politics• The reception was public

Proud Friendship• Frederick Douglass tried to enter the reception,

but was denied access. He told the guards to get Lincoln.

• Fredrick could see Lincoln• All around could hear Lincoln say “Hear comes

my friend Douglas”

Lincoln desire for Douglas Opinion

• Lincoln wanted Douglas opinion --“You must stop a little Douglas; there is no man in the country whose opinion I value more than yours. I want to know what you think of it.”

• “Mr. Lincoln, that was a sacred effort.”

Lincoln’s Speech• “The President’s inaugural is the

finest state paper in all history”• “This inaugural will read as one of

the most inspiring speech ever spoken by a man.”