Abraham Lincoln: Sources and Style of Leadership

(Hardback)

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Written by both historians and political scientists, this new essay collection explores the sources, style, and quality of Lincoln's leadership. Challenging several popular schools of thought, the contributors show that both Lincoln's character and American democratic culture influenced his leadership style. They present him as a principled leader who sought realistic solutions in extenuating circumstances. Building on the democratic principles of the nation's framers, his vision of equality was consistent with the views of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. The portrait that emerges is of an active-flexible president whose culture permitted a magnanimous and prudential political style. Lincoln's leadership encouraged the development of responsible democratic rule. The volume places Lincoln's leadership in a historical context and within the political perspective of the influences on him and his impact on others. It also examines his leadership style in terms of the factors organization theorists consider essential for effectiveness. The initial chapters focus on the impact others had on Lincoln and how he transformed their ideas into his own political vision. The work then turns to Lincoln's political style during the Civil War and how he influenced others. The final chapter puts Lincoln's political style in the perspective of world leaders of his age. This volume will be of interest to both historians and political scientists.

Reviews

"Frank J. Williams and William D. Pederson have here preserved for posterity the proceedings of a landmark event: the first symposium on the Lincoln theme ever held in the Deep South--appropriately enough, in a college founded under legislation Lincoln himself signed into law. But the surest indication of Lincoln's universal and timeless appeal, is that these essays will interest and intrigue readers everywhere, regardless of geographical or political affiliation. The result is a valuable addition to the Lincoln bookshelf."-Mario M. Cuomo Former Governor of New York and coeditor of Lincoln on Democracy
"From Japan to Idaho, form Aristotle to U.S. Grant, this book offers wide-ranging perspectives on presidential leadership, with something for nearly every student of Lincoln's all-important public life."-Mark E. Neely, Jr. St. Louis University
"Leadership is the most important but at the same time most mysterious attribute of statesmanship. This book illumines the multiple dimensions of Lincoln's leadership, thereby lessening the mystery while providing wonderful new insights on the qualities that made Lincoln the nation's greatest president who led it through its greatest crisis."-James M. McPherson G.H. Davis 1886 Professor of American History, Princeton University
"The fecundity of Lincoln scholarship is marvelous. Here is new proof of it--a set of conference papers ranging over subjects as diverse as Lincoln's "classical prudence," his poetry, and his relations with Idaho--and it is all the more interesting because it comes from the Deep South."-Merrill D. Peterson University of Virginia
"This collection does full justice to the "real" Lincoln, the Lincoln who rose above "pragmatism" to search out and rethink the evocative but often hazy ideas in the Jeffersonian tradition, and apply them creatively to the great crisis at hand. An indispensable work on our most "cerebral" leader, who was able ultimately to convert his ideals into practice."-James MacGregor Burns Williams College
The skill of the editors combined with the cooperation of the authors has led to a slim but useful volume. What makes this book particularly valuable is its tight focus on leadership. Abraham Lincoln can be considered something of an invitation to scholars to address other aspects of Lincoln's style of leadership. An for that invitation, we should be greatful to the Abraham Lincoln Association as well as to the editors of this volume. They have done their job well.-Illinois Historical Journal
This collection of nine essays, each of which looks at Abraham Lincoln's leadership from a different perspective, deserves examination by Lincoln specialists and others with a serious interest in his leadership qualities. The nine essayists represent a rich diversity in scholarly experience and in knowledge of Lincoln's life and achievements.-The Filson Club History Quarterly
"This collection of nine essays, each of which looks at Abraham Lincoln's leadership from a different perspective, deserves examination by Lincoln specialists and others with a serious interest in his leadership qualities. The nine essayists represent a rich diversity in scholarly experience and in knowledge of Lincoln's life and achievements."-The Filson Club History Quarterly
"The skill of the editors combined with the cooperation of the authors has led to a slim but useful volume. What makes this book particularly valuable is its tight focus on leadership. Abraham Lincoln can be considered something of an invitation to scholars to address other aspects of Lincoln's style of leadership. An for that invitation, we should be greatful to the Abraham Lincoln Association as well as to the editors of this volume. They have done their job well."-Illinois Historical Journal

Author Bio

FRANK J. WILLIAMS is President of the Abraham Lincoln Association. A lawyer and Judge of Probate in Rhode Island, he is the author of numerous articles on Lincoln and is currently preparing a comprehensive bibliography on Lincoln. WILLIAM D. PEDERSON is a Professor of Political Science at Louisiana State University in Shreveport. He has written numerous articles and edited several books, including The Rating Game in American Politics (1987) and Great Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court (1993). VINCENT J. MARSALA is a historian and Dean at Louisiana State University in Shreveport.