Team of Rivals is a biography of Abraham Lincoln by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin. It begins with the jockeying for the Republican Party nomination in the crucial 1860 Presidential election. Lincoln is a distant, dark horse candidate, behind the frontrunner, former Governor William H. Seward, and two other well-known politicians, Governor Salmon P. Chase and Edward Bates. As the campaigns of the four men unfold, Goodwin delves into their backgrounds, illuminating their strengths and weaknesses. Lincoln devises a winning strategy of cultivating voting delegates so that, even though he may not be their first choice, he is their second. He is aided by a strongly loyal band of supporters and friends. Thus, when Seward fails to gain the nomination on the first round of voting, partly due to fears that he is too radical and partly to opposition by enemies he has made (primarily Horace Greeley), delegates begin to turn to Lincoln, and he is unexpectedly chosen.
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After Lincoln is elected President, he includes all of his rivals in his cabinet, knowing he needs to give each of the various political factions a representative and because he wants the most capable men for the trying times to come. Despite their initial lack of respect for him, nearly every member of Lincoln's cabinet comes to deeply admire him, with the exception of Chase.
For the South, his election is the last straw. States secede, and the Civil War begins. Lincoln tiptoed around the issue of slavery as long as there was a chance to avoid an open breach; his primary goal was to preserve the Union. Even when war comes, he proceeds cautiously, resulting in criticism from the radical wing of his own party, until he perceives that the North is ready to take the giant step. Only then does he issue the Emancipation Proclamation.
As victory is in sight, Lincoln wants to receive the South back on very generous terms. However, his assassination puts an end to that plan.
Best part of story, including ending:
It's an amazing account of Lincoln's political skill and very unusual personality traits.
Best scene in story:
The end of the nomination contest, when Lincoln finally achieves the success that has mostly eluded him so long.
Opinion about the main character:
Lincoln is able to overlook slights from others (and there are many) and work with his rivals.
