BuzzFlash Reviews

BUZZFLASH REVIEWS

Yes, Barack Obama is a stark contrast to Bush in oh so many ways. For one, he actually reads books -- and writes them too, oh my gosh! -- instead of just having his PR flacks claim that he is reading them.

And it is hardly a secret that the most formative influence on Obama's views on assembling a cabinet is the book by historian and Pulitzer-prize winner, Doris Kearns Goodwin: "Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln."

"Team of Rivals," written awhile back, is enjoying a renaissance of interest, given that the President-elect has found it so fascinating and Lincoln's governing strategy so ingenious.

Of course, it's only appropriate that the Junior Senator from Illinois (soon to be former Junior Senator from Illinois) looks to Lincoln for guidance, since our homestate at BuzzFlash is, after all, the Land of Lincoln.

(Little noted is that when Obama announced his presidential quest nearly two years ago in front of the Old State Capitol in Springfield, he was standing about 30 yards from Lincoln's old law office, which one can still visit.)

But back to "Team of Rivals." Not only is Kearns one of America's finest historical researchers and writers, she can weave historical detail and observation together in a way that can make a book that runs more than 900 pages compelling. That's quite a feat.

As one online reviewer noted:

Ms. Goodwin has created a gem of a masterpiece with her most recent book on Lincoln. In the millions of pages already written on the subject, there are no books that I know of that do in essence, a character study on Lincoln and his cabinet members. The text is one of the best ever written regarding the true and underlying nature of those men who served with Lincoln in his cabinet.

While events and persons such as Antietam, Jefferson Davis, Fort Sumter, Maryland's secession attempt and many other events receive short shrift from Ms. Goodwin, this treatment is as it should be for her book concentrates on the personality and character of Lincoln and his cabinet.

While Lincoln never committed himself during the convention to any of his rivals in terms of cabinet positions, to gain votes for his eventual nomination; he voluntarily chose most of his cabinet from men who were his greatest rivals for the Presidency. He did this with clear and present knowledge that they were the best men for the jobs and the country at the time. The incredibly impressive exposition of the character of these men and especially that of Abraham Lincoln and his political and personal acumen in holding them together is given new life in this book.

Through careful reading and perusal of literally thousands of personal letters from cabinet members and from President Lincoln, Goodwin is able to put together a wonderfully clear and unique picture of the character of these men. In addition, she is able to paint a picture of each in words, and point out how their true character differed often from the public perception that abounded.

Ms. Goodwin should be noted for her fine and excruciating work in creating this book which will remain as a must read classic for Lincoln scholars of the present and the future. All of us who track the Lincoln Presidency, 140 years after its termination are grateful for her assiduous work in creating this wonderful book.

Question from BuzzFlash: sound like anyone we know, as in Barack Obama, the President-elect from the Land of Lincoln.

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BUZZFLASH REVIEWS