Lincoln on the Verge, Ted Widmer

Lincoln on the Verge, Thirteen Days to Washington

Over 15,000 books have been written about Abraham Lincoln, supposedly more than any other person except Jesus. This tower of books at the Ford's Theatre Center for Education and Leadership is a tribute to the man and the authors who have written about him. (This is actually a metal sculpture using replicas of about half the books.) The Center is across the street from Ford’s Theater where the president was assassinated.

Because I intend to add to the pile, I own about forty of these books. Every Lincoln author looks for a unique perspective. Some see themselves as myth busters. Others delve into a niche of his supposed psyche to unearth a differently tempered person. Responsible historians frequently zero in on a single event or unusual theme to add fresh insights. Entire books are dedicated to a single speech, battle, or political issue.

Ted Widmer made a great choice of subject matter. Lincoln on the Verge concentrates on the thirteen days it took Lincoln to journey by train from Springfield to Washington. It’s a fascinating story and it illustrates the political savvy of this supposed country bumpkin. Widmer introduces us to the president-elect as he travels across a great land he knows will soon be thrown into turmoil. What could Lincoln accomplish on this tedious trip? You’ll discover he could do quite a bit. He engineered the journey of the Presidential Special so he could more easily save the nation after inauguration.

Widmer has a clear and concise writing style that keeps the narrative moving, and his matter-of-fact presentation allows the reader to mine for new insights without being led to the trough. 

If you’re a Lincoln enthusiast, or merely curious, you’ll enjoy this book.

              (This is a research book for Maelstrom, a sequel to Tempest at Dawn.)

Abuse of Power, Inside the Three-Year Campaign to Impeach Donald Trump, by by Fred V. Lucas

 

Abuse of Power

In bygone days, I got my news from weekly magazines. Newspapers and the nightly news were too nerve-wracking. If I was still kicking and my assets remained intact, week-old news didn’t scare me. Flash forward a couple decades and we’re awash in an unrelenting stream of news that comes pockmarked with commentary from every Tom, Dick, and Harry.

Nowadays, understanding the implications of news is daunting, thoughtful analysis impossible. Something happens, and in near-light speed, it’s replaced by something new. Memories are garbled, strains of connectivity lost, and narratives spun so fast that they look like a host of dust devils.

With Abuse of Power, Lucas has provided us a service by neatly depicting President Donald Trump’s first impeachment. A careful follower of the news may not discover much they hadn’t already known, but reading these political clashes without the chaff helps connect the dots. Lucas takes a mostly non-judgmental view of the players; however, we get to see their words and deeds in sequence without the noise. Motives held close to the vest suddenly become noticeable. I suspect that politicians who prefer obfuscation will dislike this book.

Abuse of Power might disappoint those who prefer their politics presented in polemic rants. This book is a straightforward presentation of events told in sequence without the distraction of spin or unassociated news. Speculation and gossip seldom make an appearance. If it couldn’t be attributed, Lucas left it out.

Abuse of Power allows the reader to form their own opinion. How refreshing is that?

February 27, 1860: Abraham Lincoln Delivers His Cooper Union Address

On the evening of February 27, 1860, New Yorkers paid an exorbitant twenty-five cents to listen to a commonplace politician from some prairie state. The man had a reputation as a storyteller extraordinaire. Everyone expected to be entertained; few took the speaker seriously as a presidential candidate. Abraham Lincoln had earned a modicum of fame due to his debates with Senator Stephen Douglas two years previously, but he had lost that race and most believed the fledgling Republican Party would never nominate a loser. In fact, many wondered how this roughhewn storyteller wangled an invitation to a lecture series meant to expose serious candidates to the New York elite? Homespun yarns might draw crowds in the bucolic West, but New York City demanded a more elevated style of speechmaking.

Read all about it at Constituting America