Abraham Lincoln, nicknamed “Honest Abe” was born 200 years ago today, and his impact on our 
nation is enduring. We’ve heard much about him recently, as President Obama was sworn in using his Bible, and did a pre-inaugural train trip along the same route as his predecessor. An earlier post mentioned the commonality between the two presidents; their ability and desire to write their own speeches, and their power as orators. Lincoln might even have had an impact on our state; in 1849 he was offered the governorship of Oregon Territory, which at that time included what is now Washington State. He declined, of course.
Choosing Lincoln-related books can be quite a challenge– there are literally thousands of them, from history to biography, and even fiction. At the same time, there is a boom of internet sites devoted to our 16th president, including a year of on-air and online programming by C-SPAN. So, one idea is to go in-depth by pairing the two: read the book, and then watch online as the author discusses what went in to its writing, and illuminates the topic. Here are a few possibilities:
Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham 
Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Goodwin, a well-known presidential historian, relates in her riveting book how Lincoln tended to hire the best and the brightest, but not necessarily the most loyal. Three of the men he selected for his cabinet had been his opponents for the presidential nomination, and they were not thrilled about losing to a backwoods lawyer with obscure credentials. How Lincoln managed to turn them into a team which led our country through one of most difficult eras makes for a fascinating story (and one of President Obama’s favorite books). Here’s an interview with Goodwin.
Lincoln’s Melancholy: How Depression Challenged a President and Fueled His 
Greatness by Joshua Wolf Shenk Even given that he lived in an era in which people posed with serious faces for photographs, almost every picture we see of Lincoln can only be described as glum. He fought an almost lifelong battle with depression, a condition of which he was keenly aware, and worked to master and use to his advantage. Shenk sheds light on this aspect of Lincoln’s life with the benefit of decades of modern insights into psychological processes, and comes up with a compelling picture of the complex person Lincoln was. Here’s an interview with Shenk.
Behind the Scenes, Or, Thirty Years a Slave and 
Four Years in the White House by Elizabeth Keckley. This book was a sensation when it was originally published in 1868, especially since many of the people it referred to were still alive at the time. It was written by a slave who managed to buy herself out of slavery through her skill as a seamstress, going on to sew Mary Todd Lincoln’s inaugural gown, and live with the Lincolns in the White House. 500 Great Books by Women called it “part slave narrative, part gossip column, part Horatio Alger story”. What’s not to like? Obviously C-SPAN can’t present an author interview, but the book group discussion of Keckley’s memoir is well worth checking into.
Don’t forget to check out the excellent on-air and online programming by C-SPAN for the Lincoln Bicentennial-there are many more possibilities for pairing books and videos of author interviews!
~ Ann G
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