Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

Amazing leadership is captured in the biography of Abraham Lincoln as told by in the book Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by historian Doris Kearns Goodwin.  I never realized how smart Lincoln was in building his cabinet from 1861 to 1865 during his term in the Presidency.  Three of the men working for him ran against him as Republican candidates for President of the US whom he placed in the various positions in his cabinet (listed in parenthesis): Edward Bates (Attorney General), Salmon Chase (Secretary of the Treasury), and William Seward (Secretary of State).  The story begins in 1860 at the convention which took place in Chicago.  With every move that took place leading up and through his Presidency, Lincoln was brilliant in ensuring that the brightest person was in the correct position, utilizing the skills and competencies that each man had within him.  Lincoln knew how to “lay low” and also how to “take a stand” as he did with the difficult task of reconciling difference among his team.  There are many characters in the book, which is no easy task in completing as this is a LONG read, but completely enthralling.  After the election Lincoln and his team grapple with financial challenges, foreign policy, the growth of a nation, and of course the major issue of the day, creating a path to the abolition of slavery and victory in the US Civil War.  Lincoln’s decisions of “pulling the trigger” or disregarding from a particular argument took great skill. This is especially true based on having such a complex and disparate group of individuals surrounding him as the leader of our nation.  Kearns Goodwin captures Lincoln’s rise to popularity through his debates with Steven A. Douglas, one of the most prominent, only down the street at Cooper Union in 1858.  How Lincoln was able to work the field at the convention is an amazing story determining that being everyone’s second best candidate made him the elected candidate after the top three in the field knocked each other out.  Lincoln’s rise to Presidency, thoughtful process of choosing his team, and the daily challenges from the various voices of the players make for real life drama.  Even Lincoln’s wife’s voice is shared in some of the poor decisions she made as First Lady.  The final pages chronicle the sad days leading up to and concluding with Lincoln’s assassination at the hands of John Wilkes Booth.  This is a wonderful story that illustrates being second best, but smarter than everyone else, can have you win.   While there are many books about Lincoln as a great leader, there isn’t a book that captures his gamesmanship in molding a team for the betterment of our nation.  History lovers, this one is for you.  Entrepreneurs, this one is for you!  Add to your list!