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Abraham Lincoln’s Path to ReElection in 1864: Our Greatest Victory Fred J. Martin, Jr.
As Americans participate in the Congressional campaigns of 2014 and prepare for the election of a new president in 2016, political polls consistently record a substantial lack of confidence in national political leaders of both major parties and a disturbing sentiment that the United States is on the wrong track in current policy developments. Many citizens charge that both the right and left wings of American political thought and practice are moving consistently in more extreme directions with those leaders who are able to entertain, debate, and reach compromise fewer in number each year. These sentiments lead to unfortunate summaries of alleged failures of our democratic institutions and proposals for actions that did not speak well of our Constitutional form of government. Fortunately, at this moment in our history, Fred J. Martin, Jr. has stepped forward with a comprehensive analysis of politics in the 1860s and, most importantly, the political genius of Abraham Lincoln as he led our country through a series of perilous crises into new paths of confidence and greatness. I admire, especially, Fred Martin’s mastery of political detail and the large variety of motivations, strategies, and actions of a wide assortment of political players. The 1864 presidential election victory of AbrahamLincoln was never inevitable, and readers of Fred Martin’s account will surely say a prayer of thankfulness not only for the practical political wisdom of Abraham Lincoln but for the divine guidance which surely helped bring him strength, wisdom, and a practical idealism which can be a guide to our current regaining of American confidence in our governmental institutions.
— Richard G. Lugar , United States Senator (Ret.)
Arguably the most consequential election in American history, the presidential contest of 1864 has cried out for a more sophisticated analysis than it has heretofore received. Fortunately, FredMartin’s background in political journalism and in banking has enabled him to provide such an analysis in this book, which is a welcome addition to the Lincoln literature. — Michael Burlingame, Author, Abraham Lincoln: A Life; Distinguished Chair in Lincoln Studies, History Department, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences University of Illinois, Springfield IL Fred Martin has written an illuminating account of the roots of Lincoln’s success as president, culminating in his victory in the critical election of 1864. Effectively using Lincoln’s words as well as those of his contemporaries, Martin demonstrates how it became possible for Lincoln to overcome his early background and become a skillful and ethical political leader who saved the Union and ended slavery. The book clearly is a labor of love for Martin, a long-time student of Abraham Lincoln. Every person interested in Lincoln and his presidency should have this well researched and well- written book in his/her library.
— William C. Harris , author of Lincoln and the Border States: Preserving the Union (2011) and Lincoln and the Union Governors (2013).
82 EC Magazines | Christmas Edition 2020
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