Lincoln on Leading in Tough and Turbulent Times

........ An Extraordinary Man With An Exceptional Character ........

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“Mr. Lincoln was the central figure of our age, and on him were concentrated the love, the faith, the reverence, the hate, the fear, and the calumny of half the civilized world. The 'plain people' understood him better than did the politicians and he in turn had a wonderful perception of the real condition of the popular heart and will.” – William O. Stoddard _________________________________________________________________________

What a transcendent, special human being and outstanding leader “Honest Abe” Lincoln truly was. He earned that well-deserved nickname way before he became President. As the 16th President of the United States, he served for only four years from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865, but he made such a timeless impact and contribution both as a national leader and man of utmost sterling character in our nation’s history.

Abraham Lincoln is a model and exemplar of virtue and good values perhaps more than any person in world history other than religious figures. Most people would likely agree with that since over 10,000 books were written about him along with countless articles, movies, documentaries and plays. There is so much to know and appreciate about Lincoln and this article, therefore, barely even scratches the surface of the breadth and depth of the man and the leader. In navigating his life, politics and leadership, Lincoln was led by the values of the Founding Fathers in their creation of the American Constitution, “Don’t interfere with anything in the Constitution. That must be maintained, for it is the only safeguard of our liberties.” He was intensely patriotic. His vision for the country included not just being a continental power, but a global power backed by the greatest moral principles that the U.S. was founded upon.

As great as he was, Lincoln was not born with all his character virtues. He impressively developed, practiced, and sharpened them daily. He surely wasn’t perfect and had human flaws. He made his share of many mistakes in his life as we all do. However, he learned from his mistakes to a remarkable degree, openly admitted them and compensated for his own personal and professional shortcomings. Those actions, in themselves, are admirable and impressive.

One of the most recognizable and legendary names in U.S. history, Abraham Lincoln led at a most crucial, dangerous, and terribly disheartening time in America when our country was fiercely divided and at a catastrophic civil war with each other. As a leader, he felt an enormous sense of responsibility and was determined to hold together a nation ripping apart at the seams. His sacrifices, work hardships, intense patriotism and unyielding dedication to duty epitomize the highest standards for selfless service to the nation. It was a most trying and tiring time for Lincoln. Portraits of him before and after the war show just how much he aged in just four years.

 A Man Like No Other

Before and during that civil war period, there was untold strife, hatred, unrest, violence and vehement disagreement of positions and values about slavery and state secession with widely polarized groups of Americans, especially by radicals on both sides. It’s as if God had placed Lincoln in America at this precise moment in our history to rid us of slavery, while preserving the union to begin the healing of the United States through his generosity, compassion and benevolence. Roughly 2 percent of the population, an estimated 620,000 men, lost their lives on both sides in the four years of vicious fighting. Taken as a percentage of today's population, the toll would have risen as high as 6 million lost. The human cost of the Civil War was shocking beyond anybody's expectations.

Lincoln is a model of servant leadership — an exemplar of decent morality, ethics, values and upright behaviors for leaders in businesses, organizations of all kinds and especially for politicians today. Now, as we are in another deeply troubled time of unfortunate division, unrest, lack of civility and widely differing values and ideas that pit us against each other, we can and must learn many lessons of uniting leadership and virtuous character from this awe-inspiring, humble man. He said, “Perhaps a man’s character is like a tree and his reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.”

What solidly defined the first Republican President were his integrity, compassion, selflessness, mercy, wisdom, caring and so much more — not just his superb leadership at a time that so begged the right leadership at the right time for the right reasons in the right ways. He always wanted to do something significant and meaningful. Lincoln’s traits and upright behavior and actions are so missed with today’s (too) many unethical, self-serving, incompetent, and hypocritical politicians who are lacking even in the application of effective (results-creating) leadership, stewardship, dignity and decorum.

If you visit the famous Lincoln Memorial at the western end of the National Mall in Washington D.C., you’ll be awed at the imposing, mammoth statue of our beloved seated president surrounded by a Greek Doric style temple. The memorial was dedicated in 1922. The 59-ton statue is 19 foot (5.8 meters) high from head-to-foot of the bigger-than-life (he was actually 6’4” tall) world famous American leader. The 16th President of the United States sits immortalized with his character carved in marble as an enduring symbol of unity, strength, and wisdom. The Lincoln Memorial is by far the city's most popular monument, attracting about 8 million people in a typical year. It has become a symbolically sacred venue, especially for the Civil Rights Movement.

He Pushed Through a Life Filled with Suffering, Anguish and Disappointments

Most great and worthwhile lives of superlative character have been born among almost insurmountable difficulties and hardships. They became such because they fought desperately, honorably and valiantly to overcome all their difficulties, setbacks and weaknesses. That defined Abraham Lincoln. He had a hard life being raised in a cabin with dirt floors. He and his family were extremely poor. He only had one year of formal education unlike other powerful politicians with an Ivy League education. He faced multiple tragedies. His mother died when he was a young boy. Ann Rutledge, Lincoln’s sweetheart, and first true love, died from typhoid at 22 years old. His misery created a breakdown — put him in bed unable to function. He stopped eating, lost weight and was suicidal. He had four sons with his wife, Mary Todd — Robert, Edward, Willie, and Tad. Edward and Willie died as children.

While he had some successes, Lincoln’s setbacks were many before he became President. He failed in business. Was defeated for Illinois House Speaker, lost his nomination for Congress, rejected for land officer, twice defeated for U.S. Senate, and lost the nomination for Vice President. With his ongoing grief, other sad experiences and numerous failures, Lincoln was unhappy throughout his life. Later history would diagnose him with profound “melancholy” (definition: fear and sadness without a cause) a term used for depression of the mind and spirit at that time.

He had clinical depression most of the time and often wept in public and recited maudlin poetry. As a young man he talked more than once of suicide, but valiantly moved ahead. As he grew older, he saw the world as hard and grim, often full of misery and hardships. His lingering, suffering depression, however, spurred him on, ever so painfully to look into and examine his soul’s core. There were numerous people who hurt him. Yet, Lincoln was careful and steadfast to put past hurts behind him and never allow wounds to fester.

His drive, perseverance and resolute, forceful effort was to stay alive and continue forward in his life and career to make a difference. These traits helped him develop the vital skills, attitudes, and capabilities, so needed in his future as President dealing with a calamitous civil war with its accompanying detractors, haters, incompetent generals and difficult cabinet members. Throughout his hardships, Lincoln had an active sense of humor. He said that he would likely die if he didn’t laugh as he saw humor as his medicine against the gloom of war. A member of Congress described Lincoln’s humor as his great solace and safeguard when he experienced bouts of deep mental depression.

Imagine becoming a U.S. President with just one year of formal schooling. Lincoln was an entirely self-taught man. With his inexhaustible drive, determination, and persistence, he became a voracious reader and student to transcend his circumstances. He was practically always seen with a book under his arms, whether it was the Bible, Aesop’s Fables or the works of Shakespeare, reading them so frequently, that he could recite entire passages from memory.

He taught himself English grammar, geometry and trigonometry and math to learn reasoning. When young men learned law while becoming apprentices to practicing lawyers to learn the profession, Lincoln studied with no one, but instead, devoured law books until he understood them thoroughly. He was always studying every subject before him. Life itself was also a school to him as he carefully and intentionally studied human behavior. Because of this and with his personality, style and character, Lincoln knew how to show empathy and emotionally connect with and forge strong bonds with people.

With Lincoln we have a man of deep substance and upright, inimitable character who took great strength from his piercing insights into his depression with his creative and humorous responses to it. His spirit of never quit determination, forged over decades of deep suffering and earnest longing to do what is always right, sustained and strengthened him in the most arduous times. His almost obsessive focus on self-learning, his lessons from his hard life and his virtuous character made him the transcendent person worthy of history’s acclaim.  

 Are We In Another “Great Divide With Ethics and Morals Deteriorating?

The U.S. as a nation now is increasingly and frighteningly divided, fractious, polarized, partisan and devoid of strong, moral leadership in many areas that would unite and guide us toward a constructive “north star direction” for our future. It seems everything is politicized. The social fabric of America is unraveling and disintegrating right before our eyes. We’re experiencing a myriad of deeping social, political and economic problems that threaten our great nation. Americans are feeling that too many government leaders in positions of high power are clueless, aimless, rudderless and hopeless.

In June 2022 Gallop did a poll of adults. They found that a record low of 38 percent of them said they were extremely proud to be an American. Comparatively, in 2004, a high of 91 percent reported they were extremely proud to be an American. Another unsettling Gallop poll conducted in June 2022 for almost three weeks showed that citizens’ confidence in 16 of institutions in American society averaged a new low of 27 percent. They were asked what percentage had a “great deal/quite a lot” of confidence in each of the institutions like military, public schools, church, newspapers, television news and others.

There were significant declines for 11 of the 16 institutions tested and no improvements for any. There was a plummeting 15-point drop in the presidency from 38 to 23. Newspapers had a low of 16 percent, while television news had an even lower score of 11 percent. Small business was rated the highest (68 percent), while Congress (as expected) was dead last with a 12 percent rating in 2021 spiraling down to an embarrassing scant 7 percent in 2022.

The results of a poll released in late June 2022 showed that 85 percent of U.S. adults say the country is on the wrong track, and 79 percent describe the economy as poor, according to a new survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. A similar poll by Monmouth University noted that nearly 9 in 10 Americans say the country is headed on the wrong track. The U.S. inflation rate reached 9.1 percent in July 2022, its highest level since December 1981 the U.S. Department of Labor reported in June. The sad, bad news continues. Another May 2022 Gallop poll found that 50 percent of people surveyed said the state of moral values is “poor” with 37 percent saying, “only fair.” Only 1 percent say it is “excellent.’ Almost 8 out of 10 (78 percent) think that moral values in the U.S. are getting worse.

Not long ago, the concept of another American Civil War seemed quite outlandish and ridiculous. These days, the notion of it has gone somewhat mainstream suddenly everywhere. In a poll published in October 2020, Business Insider said that a majority of Americans believed the U.S. was already in a "cold" civil war. In the fall of 2020, the University of Virginia Center for Politics published a poll stating that a majority of people who had voted to reelect former President Donald Trump in 2020 now wanted their state to secede from the Union. Their data also showed a stunning 41 percent of those who voted for Joe Biden in 2020 also said it might now be "time to split the country."

Such downbeat assessments of America's democracy and cohesion are especially prevalent among the young. The Institute of Politics at Harvard's Kennedy School published a poll that sadly found that half of voting age Americans under 30 felt our democracy was "in trouble" or "failing." A third also said they expected there to be a civil war within their lifetimes. And a quarter thought at least one state would secede.

We are well advised now to take very seriously Lincoln’s famous admonition in a speech he gave at the Republican State Convention in Springfield, Illinois on June 16, 1858, in front of more than 1,000 delegates when he said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” This case was in reference to the government being half slave and half free. He paraphrased Matthew 12:25 from the Bible. Our house is dividing more and more each week and it’s teetering while standing.

Now More Than Ever We Need to Learn From Lincoln’s Leadership and Character

What valuable lessons might we learn and apply from his unique leadership style, skills, behavior and actions to enable us to deal with the troubling state of affairs in our country and the world? This article will briefly highlight some of Lincoln’s admirable traits so leaders in today’s politics, business, government, military, and others might (hopefully and smartly) embed it into their behaviors, strategies and solutions so needed for positive change right now.

As a person, husband, father and U.S. President, Abraham Lincoln’s character and leadership were deeply grounded in his integrity, virtues and Christian values, especially those of liberty and equality. In a 2021 Presidential Historian Survey by C-SPAN, Lincoln was consistently ranked as the most popular president over the years. All other surveys and research organizations like YouGovAmerica had him at the top. CBS News rated our 16th president as the best one in our country’s history, primarily for his crisis leadership ability and for pursuing equal justice for all. 

A deeply caring man, Lincoln had a high degree of empathy, sensitivity, social skills, and emotional intelligence. He always tried to gain the affection, respect, and trust of people. He inspired those qualities by conveying positive messages, an optimistic attitude, compassion, humility, and the willingness to accept not just advice, but correction and even criticism. That’s so extremely rare for politicians! One of Lincoln’s most luminous insights was voiced when he said, “In order to win a man to your cause, you must first reach his heart, the great high road to his reason.” Lincoln intuitively knew, unlike even many “experienced” leaders today, that the engagement and performance of others are mostly influenced by feelings and emotions. In all respects, he was clearly beyond participating in any kind of negative politics, name-calling, dirty tricks or making promises that were never kept, as we see so much of it today around the world.

Qualities that Made Lincoln Exceptional and Memorable

Great Speaker and Communicator

Abraham Lincoln had a superior talent at oratory and debate and, in particular, his masterful use of storytelling to impact and amplify the persuasiveness of his oratory and debate. Unlike so many of the pompous politicians of his time (and now) who would pontificate and bloviate in their lengthy speeches, Lincoln, however, would brilliantly condense words, messages and ideas into a superbly clear, concise, persuasive and captivating speech. His communication via letter was just as precise, understandable, and brief as well.

He was a master craftsman of meaningful words that were targeted at both the intellect and emotions of those he addressed. His speaking style reflected his nobility and gentle bearing. Still, he could be an “oral flamethrower” when situations and his passion exploded. William Heardon, a law partner and biographer of Lincoln said this about one of his speeches, “This speech (at Bloomington) was full of fire and energy and force. It was logic — it was pathos — it was enthusiasm. It was Justice — Equity — Truth — Right and the good set ablaze by the divine fires of a soul maddened by the wrong.”

While Lincoln was widely known for many illuminating, articulate and touching speeches, his Gettysburg Address is one of the best known, respected and most influential statements of American national purpose and intention. On that historic November 19, 1863, day, Lincoln, in his meticulously crafted address in the field of Gettysburg, proclaimed that the deaths of so many Union soldiers would not be in vain, that the scourge of slavery would end and the future of democracy would be assured and sustained. His short speech lasting about three minutes with ten sentences and 272 words was preceded by U.S. Senator, former Governor and Unitarian pastor from Massachusetts Edward Everett who spoke for two hours using 13,607 words. Yet, who remembers Everett’s voluminous monologue? If you’ve not read Lincoln’s most appropriate and eloquent remarks, here it is:

"Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives, that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate—we cannot hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.

It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

Lincoln wasn’t just a charismatic and memorable speaker; he was a different style of speaker who told extraordinary and captivating stories and used other creative communication techniques to best his competitors on the speaking circuit and win over his audiences. Albert G. Riddle, a U.S. Representative from Ohio wrote in his Recollections of War Times about our 16th President, “Never was there a more persuasive speaker. His quaint logic and taking, unaccustomed ways were irresistible.”

David Davis, a United States Senator from Illinois, and Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court observed this about Lincoln, “His manner of recital was in many respects unique, if not remarkable. His countenance and all his features seemed to take part in the performance. As he neared the pitch or point of the joke or story, every vestige of seriousness disappeared from his face. His little gray eyes sparkled; a smile seemed to gather up, curtain like, the corners of his mouth; his frame quivered with suppressed excitement; and when the point—or 'nub' of the story, as he called it—came, no one's laugh was heartier than his."

 Storyteller Par Excellence

Masterful speakers who can galvanize audiences to action know that great stories can deliver and accomplish a lot. They can excite, educate, inspire, captivate, persuade, inform, enlighten, disarm, motivate, and entertain people. Done right, stories can be the ultimate communication and leadership tool, even in today’s sophisticated digital and virtual world. They’re timeless. They can forge connections with people, build rapport and make the storyteller very likable and credible. They can evoke deep emotions in the audience. People remember good stories so much more than facts. When you have people feeling something deep inside after hearing a compelling and emotion-creating tale, it becomes exceptionally memorable — it will stick in one’s mind and heart for a long time.

Abraham Lincoln died 157 years ago. He is considered many things: the greatest U.S. president, a martyr, a savior of our nation, down-home lawyer, master politician and strategist. But perhaps his greatest gift and the one we should remember him by was his sharp skill and power as a storyteller. Lincoln wasn’t just an average or “typical” storyteller — he was a strategic, highly accomplished, and polished storyteller. He understood the raw power that stories had to influence and shape the way people think and feel about an issue, mold their perceptions, and move them collectively toward a desired action. He said that a good story is better than a drop of whiskey. Rhetoric scholar Lois Einhorn in her book, Abraham Lincoln the Orator, offers a breakdown of Lincoln’s story-telling technique:

“Lincoln’s pragmatic attitude toward life and speaking and his need to be understood — to reach the people — help explain the homespun nature of his humor. His stories were colloquial, concrete, colorful, and occasionally off-color. They included commonplace details, vivid imagery, frontier vernacular and short, straightforward sentences that sometimes deviated from the formal rules of grammar. The simplicity of his stories made them easier to digest. They usually employed analogical logic and sometimes used the techniques of exaggeration, distortion, and caricature often associated with the ‘tall tales’ of the West. Few of his stories were uproariously funny — they sought to make listeners smile while understanding a serious point.”

Lincoln had a knack for finding just the right anecdote to also illustrate a point or message that he wanted to communicate in a subtle or indirect way. Toward the end of the Civil War, General William Tecumseh Sherman asked Lincoln what should be done with Confederate leaders such as their President Jefferson Davis, who was on the run. The Army wanted to know if they should pursue and capture Davis. Lincoln, hoping to prevent resistance and ongoing problems, did not want this. Yet, he chose not to publicly declare it, for political reasons.

So, Lincoln told Sherman, “That reminds me of story.” He told of a man who took a pledge against drinking. “The man,” said Lincoln, “was offered a drink at a friend’s house. He declined, due to his pledge. So, his friend offered him lemonade instead. Then the host mentioned that the lemonade would be a bit more palatable and thirst quenching if he were to pour some brandy in it. The man said that if his host were to do that unbeknownst (or unknown) to him, then … he could not object.” Sherman immediately grasped the meaning of Lincoln’s targeted story—that the army was to let Jefferson Davis escape, “unbeknownst” to the president. What a creative way of saying something that he could not outwardly say.

Lincoln would involve his audience in his messages and visions. He cleverly used stories to have others vividly see his side of an issue. “That reminds me of a story…” became a Lincoln trademark. Why are well-performed stories so important for leaders? Here are just a few reasons. Facts are approximately 22 times more likely to be remembered if they are part of a story. According to a study by Stanford professor Chip Heath, 63 percent of those tested were able to remember stories, while only 5 percent could remember a single statistic.

The most popular TED talks that get millions of views are made up of 65 percent of stories, which may be why many find them so riveting and gripping. Many of Lincoln’s contemporaries, maintained his stories included humor, but with a key point or meaningful series of messages. He told jokes as a tonic, an icebreaker and a political weapon. It takes strong, secure, and confident people to poke good-natured fun of themselves. Lincoln would endear himself to his audiences with jokes and self-deprecating humor. As a politician, he made excellent use of his humorous stories. His longtime political opponent Stephen A. Douglas complained that Lincoln’s jokes were "like a slap across my back. Nothing else—not any of his arguments or any of his replies to my questions—disturbs me. But when he begins to tell a story, I feel that I am to be overmatched."

As an example, Lincoln told of a preacher who said during his sermon that although the Lord was the only perfect man, the Bible never mentioned a perfect woman. A woman in the rear of his congregation called out, "I know a perfect woman, and I’ve heard of her every day for the last six years." The surprised minister asked, "Who was she?" The woman shouted, "My husband’s first wife!" As usual there was uproarious laughter from Lincoln’s humor. Once he was accused during a debate with Stephen Douglas of being two-faced. Lincoln replied, “If I had another face, do you think I’d wear this one?”

Too many politicians today haven’t learned, let alone mastered the valuable art of great storytelling — stories that are brief, interesting, surprising and especially intellectually and emotionally impacting —designed to deliver a major, sticking point and communication punch. Far less of them are secure and talented enough, at just the right time in the right manner, to poke fun of themselves in ways that show they don’t always take themselves seriously. President Ronald Reagan was superb at both storytelling and humor, much of it self-directed.

Consummate Listener

To be a great leader requires a person to encourage all kinds of ideas, plans, opinions, recommendations, and proposed solutions from others. Meetings where people hash out even contrary views on the topic is often ultimately invaluable to arriving at ideal results. Lincoln was a rare patient and open-minded listener who effectively dealt with different personalities, styles and with sometimes wildly conflicting views and opinions. He even tolerated criticism leveled at him.

He was big and secure enough in himself to objectively see if the disapproval or personal critique was warranted so he could change the situation. He fostered an open dialogue and encouraged participation by allowing others to fully express themselves without fear of reprisal or retribution. Once Lincoln adequately heard everyone’s voices including their competing points of view, he knew when to stop. He then respectfully made his final decision, even if he knew it would meet with resistance. But he listened first and fully and in a receptive, non-judgmental manner before concluding about how to best proceed.

A leader who listens will get the very best ideas and solutions from his or her teams and individuals. Active listening will get people to deeply respect and trust you probably better than any other behavior you exhibit. Listening is a “magnetic quality” that draws people to you. It’s amazing how a simple act of good listening will significantly boost their positive perception of you. By just actively listening in a sincere and well-done fashion, it can give people the impression that you have some combination of being empathic, reasonable, fair-minded, considerate, thoughtful, non-judgmental, sincere, accepting, trustworthy and more. Listening will get people off the defensive and facilitate any persuasion or convincing that follows. Genuine listening, not the manipulative type, always increases the chance of improving relationships, understanding, healing and caring.

 Having the Best Teams

According to historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, Lincoln selected and appointed the best, brightest, and most capable individuals to his cabinet. He employed the strengths of his opponents in a way that emboldened his presidency. Some of them were his toughest political rivals and detractors. They were unafraid to challenge Lincoln and assert their strong voices in opposition. Some did more than that. Lincoln brought Salmon Chase into his cabinet as Treasury Secretary. He kept him in that post for 3 years full well knowing that Chase desperately craved the presidency and was undermining Lincoln with the other cabinet members. Lincoln needed him for his skills and as long as he did a good job, Lincoln felt Chase’s results at the dire, critical time during the civil war was more important than his personal feelings.

Lincoln knew the country desperately needed smart and imaginative ideas and solutions and to have advisors and others inform him of the key issues on each side. He provoked and encouraged thoughtful debate. This strategy and his open-mindedness, maturity and self-confidence to deal with them are what helped make him the ideal leader during the Civil War. Lincoln did not let his one-sided personal views dominate his decisions. He learned how to manage and use differences productively.

It was certainly not easy working with some of these pompous, combative, and otherwise difficult-to-deal with puffed-up egos and personalities. Lincoln effectively pulled these groups together and eventually earned their deep respect, trust and even affection from many. For example, William Henry Seward (who was Lincoln’s main rival in 1860 and later became his Secretary of State) wound up being his most trusted advisor. About two months after becoming Secretary of State, Seward wrote to his wife that Lincoln was unlike anyone he’s ever known. One after another, cabinet members and others who came to power thinking Lincoln was rather unexceptional ended up believing that he was as near perfect a man as anyone they’d ever met.

Look at how today’s politicians are selecting people to top positions in their administration, and you’ll see it’s a process and criteria not determined by meritocracy, exceptional competence and experience, but by one of polarized and identity politics and social demographics that are, unfortunately, bringing unsatisfactory and even potentially disastrous results in some cases. Too many leaders surround themselves with people who simply tell the leader what he or she wants to hear. These leaders and politicians are not secure and confident enough to bring in other leaders or those with strong beliefs and ideas, much less rivals.

If your organization wants more creativity, innovation, and vastly superior achievements, then select those with the top talents regardless of some who might have “challenging personalities” and work habits. It can take lots of patience, understanding and a knack for streetwise behavioral psychology to deal with them, but the outcomes can be spectacular and amazing. Lincoln treated those he worked with well. However, he did get frustrated and angry and at times almost reached a breaking point with their behavior and intransigence. According to Kearns Goodwin, he would sit down and write what he called his “hot letter” to the person he was angry with and set it aside and not send it. But even the generally calm and composed Lincoln had enough with specific difficult people and would lose his temper. He would, however, follow up with a letter or gesture to let the offender know he was not any longer angry or holding resentment or a grudge. How rare and extraordinary was that?

 Being Accessible and Involved

Lincoln made himself very accessible to the public as President. He kept regular office hours and regular citizens were allowed to see him. He was probably the most accessible chief executive the United States has ever known. Lincoln’s secretaries reported that the President spent about 75 percent of his time meeting with people to gather information, forge relationships and solidify commitments and just to listen to citizens with their concerns and thoughts.

As remarkable as it may seem, Lincoln spent more time out of the White House than he did in it. Chances were good that if a Union soldier enlisted early in the Civil War, he met and warmly greeted by the President in person. Lincoln would also personally inspect every state regiment that passed through Washington D.C. on their way to various fronts. He was known for meeting, not just the Union’s military leaders, but the regular troops and average citizens as well. He boosted their morale, encouraged them to fight bravely and showed enormous appreciation for their sacrifices. In addition, he would ask many questions and gathered excellent feedback, ideas, and intelligence by getting it directly from face-to-face encounters. There were times Lincoln would travel long distances to visit weary troops on the battlefield. By demonstrating to them that their efforts and sacrifices mattered to him, he earned their unmitigated support, loyalty, and affection.

 Showing Compassion, Kindness and Mercy

There are seemingly untold stories about Lincoln’s empathy and kindness toward people and animals. Words routinely used to describe President Lincoln include compassionate, kindhearted, caring, forgiving, fatherly and immodest. Schuyler Colfax, Speaker of the House at that time, once remarked, ‘No man clothed with such vast power ever wielded it more tenderly and forbearingly.” The President was asked by one general how the defeated Confederates should be treated. Lincoln replied, “Let ‘em up easy.” He proceeded not who to blame, severely punish or bring on what others vehemently advocated to be justified retribution, but to heal and rebuild the nation and its people. He was generous in his Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction and other gestures and policies. It allowed for a full pardon for and restoration of property to all engaged in the rebellion except for the highest Confederate officials and military leaders.

In Lincoln’s brief second inaugural address, he ends with this memorable, historic sentence that is inscribed in the Lincoln Memorial, "With malice toward none with charity for all with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right let us strive on to finish the work we are in to bind up the nation's wounds, to care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow and his orphan — to do all which may achieve and cherish a just and lasting peace among ourselves and with all nations."

Many leadership experts and authors say that hubris is one of the most common and harmful leadership weaknesses, whereby so many try to cover mistakes or failures up, make excuses or strongly deny that they somehow screwed up. Not with Lincoln. Contrary to what those in power may believe, admitting wrongdoing is a sign of confidence and moral fortitude. He had no problem admitting mistakes as in this complimentary and conciliatory letter he wrote to General Ulysses S. Grant:

“I write now as a grateful acknowledgement for the almost inestimable service you have done for the country. I wish to say a word further. When you reached the vicinity of Vicksburg… I never had any faith, except a general hope that you knew better than I that the expedition could succeed. I feared it was a mistake. I now wish to make the personal acknowledgement that you were right, and I was wrong.”

Lincoln has shown extreme tact and sensitivity in typically communicating with his generals. Rather than give direct orders with strong language, he would use phrases such as. “.. This letter is in no sense an order” and “I hope you will consider it…” and “It was suggested to yo, not ordered…” One of Lincoln’s weaknesses, though, was his putting up with generals who were too needlessly cautious, who planned inadequately and who were reluctant to engage and fight as needed aggressively and quickly. Unfortunately, he left many in command positions longer, when, instead he should have relieved them of command much sooner with more decisiveness and authority. As a result, needless deaths occurred, battles were lost, and the war was extended.

One of the most intriguing books leaders can learn from was Lincoln and His Generals written back in 1952 by T. Harry Williams. Williams’ book highlights Lincoln’s constant disappointments and frustrations with passive, incompetent, but puffed-up egocentric and arrogant generals like Fremont, Buell, Banks, Burnside and especially George B. McClellan, who Lincoln appointed as General-in-Chief. McClellan was the President’s biggest disappointment. The general took months to plan his Virginia Peninsula Campaign, which lost him opportunities to advance the war effort. Referencing McClellan, Lincoln said, “He has got the slows.” Generals Philip H. Sheridan and Ulysses S. Grant, however, were his favorites because they were “fighting generals.”

Lincoln would often disturb and even outrage some generals with his leniency about discipline and punishment for the troops. He pardoned many soldiers who would otherwise be penalized or worse. He reasoned, “If the Good Lord has given a man a cowardly pair of legs, it is hard to keep them from running away with him.” Lincoln’s heart was so tender and forgiving, that he made it a standing order that any person wanting to see him about a soldier sentenced to be shot for some serious offence, should be allowed to plead their case to Lincoln, even if Senators or Cabinet Members had to wait.

When one soldier was sentenced to be executed for falling asleep on duty, Lincoln said, “I find this boy had fought all day long bravely in the front lines. It is no wonder he went to sleep. He is a country boy used to going to bed at dark. I cannot think of having his blood upon my hands. He must be returned to the army. Shortly afterwards the boy was found killed in action on the battlefield in Fredericksburg with a photograph of Lincoln in his pocket upon which was written, “God bless Abraham Lincoln.”

 A Rich Life of Playing Lincoln

My friend Tom Katsis, from Los Angeles is an actor, producer and a terrific Abraham Lincoln impersonator and performer. Without a beard, he had no idea he resembled the 16th president. At 6’3” Katsis was close in height to the tall Lincoln. He performed in Las Vegas, Washington DC, Tulsa, Oklahoma, schools throughout California, Nixon and Reagan Libraries, TV commercials and films. He said, “I love that folks have said it’s as though I’m channeling the spirit of Lincoln and how they wonderfully respond to seeing him (as Lincoln) in action.”

Tom Katsis is proud that he brings that period of history to life and educates young and older about what made Lincoln so great. The warm responses from his audiences are always a thrill for him, “I have people hug me, wanting to be photographed with me and younger folks think I’m actually him.” Having an acting background is invaluable to enhancing his powerful performance when discussing what led up to the Civil War and the ending of slavery. What a great contribution Katsis is making to keep the memory of Lincoln alive and reminding us what a great president, leader and man he truly was.

 Summary

No doubt that Lincoln was an exceptional and almost otherworldly human being for his accomplishments, presence, courage, dedication, perseverance (in spite of all his sadness, disappointments and grief) but, mostly for his supremely ethical, kind and compassionate character. We have so much to appreciate and learn from him. Let us benefit and grow from emulating the best of Lincoln. He led brilliantly, not just from his mind, but from his heart. In today’s terribly troubling times, politicians and leaders of all kinds should take notice to lead and behave more morally like Lincoln. 

Famous Russian writer Leo Tolstoy, who is regarded as one of the greatest authors of all time, aptly said this in 1909 about our 16th President, “The greatness of Napoleon, Caesar or Washington is only a moonlight to the sun of Lincoln. His example is universal and will last a thousand years. He was bigger than his country — bigger than all the Presidents together, and as a great character, he will live as long as the world lives.” Apparently at an early age, Lincoln had an intransigent belief and feeling that he had a grand purpose to fulfill in his life. He set his sights on “engraving his name in history.” He has done so magnificently.

About the Author

Ray Anthony is the Chief “Innovader” in The Woodlands, Texas, USA. He is the author of 9 books and over 100 articles on organizational change, innovation, leadership, creativity, sales, presentation skills and other strategic business topics. His vanguard book, Innovative Presentations for Dummies (Wiley Publishing) shows how to powerfully reimagine, reinvent and remake presentations that win against the toughest odds. Ray is a successful, dynamic keynote speaker, executive coach, program developer, corporate trainer, videographer and creative who has worked with numerous Fortune 500 corporations and elite U.S. government agencies (CIA, NASA and USSOCOM) to help improve their operational performance and results through creativity and innovation. He can be reached at Innovader@comcast.net or cell: 832-594-4747.