"An intimate character portrait and fascinating inquiry into the basis of Lincoln's energetic, curious mind."-- The Wall Street Journal WINNER OF THE BARONDESS/LINCOLN AWARD - From the New York Times bestselling author of A. Lincoln and American Ulysses, a revelatory glimpse into the intellectual journey of our sixteenth president through his private notes to himself, explored together here for the first time A deeply private man, shut off even to those who worked closely with him, Abraham Lincoln often ...
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"An intimate character portrait and fascinating inquiry into the basis of Lincoln's energetic, curious mind."-- The Wall Street Journal WINNER OF THE BARONDESS/LINCOLN AWARD - From the New York Times bestselling author of A. Lincoln and American Ulysses, a revelatory glimpse into the intellectual journey of our sixteenth president through his private notes to himself, explored together here for the first time A deeply private man, shut off even to those who worked closely with him, Abraham Lincoln often captured "his best thoughts," as he called them, in short notes to himself. He would work out his personal stances on the biggest issues of the day, never expecting anyone to see these frank, unpolished pieces of writing, which he'd then keep close at hand, in desk drawers and even in his top hat. The profound importance of these notes has been overlooked, because the originals are scattered across several different archives and have never before been brought together and examined as a coherent whole. Now, renowned Lincoln historian Ronald C. White walks readers through twelve of Lincoln's most important private notes, showcasing our greatest president's brilliance and empathy, but also his very human anxieties and ambitions. We look over Lincoln's shoulder as he grapples with the problem of slavery, attempting to find convincing rebuttals to those who supported the evil institution ("As I would not be a slave , so I would not be a master . This expresses my idea of democracy."); prepares for his historic debates with Stephen Douglas; expresses his private feelings after a defeated bid for a Senate seat ("With me , the race of ambition has been a failure--a flat failure"); voices his concerns about the new Republican Party's long-term prospects; develops an argument for national unity amidst a secession crisis that would ultimately rend the nation in two; and, for a president many have viewed as not religious, develops a sophisticated theological reflection in the midst of the Civil War ("it is quite possible that God's purpose is something different from the purpose of either party"). Additionally, in a historic first, all 111 Lincoln notes are transcribed in the appendix, a gift to scholars and Lincoln buffs alike. These are notes Lincoln never expected anyone to read, put into context by a writer who has spent his career studying Lincoln's life and words. The result is a rare glimpse into the mind and soul of one of our nation's most important figures.
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Abraham Lincoln continues to inspire readers and writers alike as shown by the constant stream of books about our sixteenth president. Ronald C. White's recent book, "Lincoln in Private: What his most Personal Reflections Tell us about our Greatest President" (2021) explores Lincoln's life and accomplishment by an examination of a selection of twelve of the 111 private notes that Lincoln wrote to himself at different times in life that have come down to us. These short notes have been gathered together before in large collected editions of Lincoln's writings. Some of them have received substantial study and attention. But the 111 notes have apparently never been the focus of a single volume or gathered together for easy accessibility and study, as they are in this book.
Ronald C. White is a Professor of American Religious History who has written extensively on Lincoln and his era with a religious focus. He his written biographies of Lincoln and of Ulysses Grant. I have read White's book on Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address, "Lincoln's Greatest Speech: The Second Inaugural"(2002), and I have heard him speak.
It is valuable to begin with the Epilogue to this book. White points out that Lincoln was a public figure of great accomplishment whose private thoughts remain little known. His study of Lincoln's personal notes had the goal of increasing the understanding of Lincoln and, even more importantly, of gaining an understanding of the nature and importance of the reflective life. The notes, for White, show Lincoln engaging in "intellectual, political, and moral" reflection, "often all at the same time". Lincoln wrote the notes to "probe and push his preliminary thinking about many sides of a complex problem or issue". White writes in the following passage about what he and his readers might learn from the example of Lincoln's private notes.
"The example of Lincoln the public leader is referred to often. But the private Lincoln is also an example. In a world of shortened attention spans and constant interruptions, his fragments encourage us to live more thoughtful and reflective lives. In speaking to high school students, and in writing this book, I hope to point a new generation toward the rewards -- personal and societal -- of a habit of sustained, deep, private thought."
White meets his goal in the ten chapters of his book which examine in detail twelve of Lincoln's private notes. Each chapter begins with the text of Lincoln's reflections. White then analyzes the text and, in most instances, places it within the context of Lincoln's public activities to show how these thoughts were used and developed. White also broadens the discussion to show how each of Lincoln's notes related to other writers and trends of the day. The discussion in each chapter is further enhanced by photos and illustrations. The discussion includes careful documentation in endnotes and in a substantial bibliography. The text of each of the 111 private notes is set out in a lengthy appendix. and there is an unusual selection of the notes in Lincoln's own handwriting to add texture to the study.
The book is divided into three parts. The first part. "Lawyer", includes two texts describing Lincoln's visit to Niagara Falls and his thoughts on the nature of the legal profession. The second part "Politician" consists of four chapters discussing Lincoln's revived political career following his single term in the House of Representatives. The texts explore Lincoln's response to the Kansas-Nebraska Act, his thoughts on his failed initial bid for the Senate, his reflections on the nature of the Republican Party, his understanding of democracy, and his critique of Pro-Slavery Theology.
Part Three considers Lincoln's Presidency. It begins with his thoughts on secession, provoked by the writings of his former friend and Confederate vice-president, Alexander Stephens. There are notes for a fascinating speech Lincoln wrote but never delivered for an audience in the border state of Kentucky, where Lincoln was born. The section concludes with a heavily theological "Meditation on the Divine Will" which Lincoln drew upon in his Second Inaugural Address. White considers this note at length in this book and in his earlier book on the Second Inaugural. It is the most philosophical of the notes and best captures White's own preoccupations and his understanding of Lincoln.
"Lincoln in Private" will reward reading by those with a strong prior background in Lincoln and by those coming to him in an earlier stage of study. The book fulfills White's two-fold goal of expanding knowledge of Lincoln and of encouraging the habit of reflection and thought in the reader, even when writing or thinking for an audience of one.
