Lincoln on LincolnPaul M. Zall Though Abraham Lincoln has been the subject of numerous biographies, his personality remains an enigma. During his lifetime, Lincoln prepared two sketches of his life for the 1860 presidential race. These brief campaign portraits serve as the core around which Paul Zall weaves extracts from correspondence, speeches, and interviews to produce an in-depth biography. Lincoln's writing about himself offers a window into the soul and mind of one of America's greatest president. His words reveal an emotional evolution typically submerged in political biographies. Lincoln on Lincoln shows a man struggling to reconcile personal ambition and civic virtue, conscience and Constitution, and ultimately the will of God and the will of the people. Zall frames Lincoln's words with his own illuminating commentary, providing a continuous, compelling narrative. Beginning with Lincoln's thoughts on his parents, the story moves though his youth and early successes and failures in law and politics, and culminates in his clashes and conflicts—internal as well as external—as president of a divided country. Through his writings, Lincoln said much more about himself than is commonly recognized, and Zall uses this material to create a unique portrait of this pivotal figure. |
From inside the book
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... whole or half blood. He had a sister, older than himself, who was grown and married, but died many years ago, leaving no child. Also a brother, younger than himself, who died in infancy. Baby Thomas died in 1812. Sister Sarah, or Sally ...
... whole neighborhood (McVey 64-65). Sally Bush Johnston Lincoln insisted that Thomas had encouraged the boy to read, even taking on extra work rather than interrupt reading (W&D 107). But books were very expensive. The Parson Weems ...
... whole, calling it “the national debt,” which hung over him for ten years (Donald 54; Mearns, Lincoln Papers, 1:155). MAY 1833-JANUARY 1835 Of course they did nothing but get deeper and deeper in debt. He was appointed Postmaster at New ...
... whole people of Sangamon my constituents, as well those that oppose, as those that support me. While acting as their representative, I shall be governed by their will, on all subjects upon which I have the means of knowing what their ...
... whole question with me. Nothing would make me more miserable than to believe you miserable—nothing more happy, than to know you were so. In what I have now said, I think I can not be misunderstood; and to make myself understood, is the ...
Contents
Making His Way with Wit and Wisdom | |
Stumping the State and the Nation | |
Preserving Protecting Defending | |
Making Peace All Passion Spent | |
Notes | |