Two great men from Illinois

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By Erin Riley in Sydney, Australia

23 March 2010

As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve been working my way (or re-working my way, or re-re working my way) though David Blight’s phenomenal lecture series on the American Civil War and Reconstruction*. While I’ve been through the whole series at least twice already, I never tire of listening to it because, every time I do, something new strikes me.

On this most recent listening, I became captivated with Lincoln as a complex and complicated man, and an incredibly gifted leader. And in reflecting on those aspects of his character and leadership style that made Lincoln the great president that he was, it seems pretty clear to me that Barack Obama is not at all dissimilar.

There’s a lovely quote about Lincoln from W. E. B. Dubois which, I think, beautifully captures what made him great:

“I love him, not because he was perfect, but because he was not perfect, yet triumphed. There was something left so that at the crisis, he was big enough to be inconsistent.”

To which Blight added:

“I’d argue that the most important thing you can understand about Abraham Lincoln is tat he had the capacity for growth.”

Big enough to be inconsistent. A leader who owned his mistakes, who bided his time, who changed his mind. A leader who acted on principle, but could be convinced. A leader who put his conviction about what was the right thing to do ahead of his own political fate.

Later in the lecture series, Blight tells the story of when Abraham Lincoln called Frederick Douglass to the White House, a few months ahead of the 1864 election. With the war dragging on, and that summer’s crucial victories yet to swing the momentum, Lincoln was genuinely concerned- in fact, genuinely believed- he would lose the presidency, and that his successor would make a treaty with the Confederacy. So he called Douglass to the White House, and asked him if he would lead an effort to smuggle as many enslaved persons from the South to protection behind Union lines, ahead of the election. Douglass returned to his home, flabbergasted, and began to make plans and ask advice on how he might begin such an endeavour.

Union victories soon rendered the plans redundant, but the story illustrates the greatness of Lincoln. When his defeat seemed likely, he wanted not to protect act in a manner that would sure up electoral success, but to ensure that what he had fought for would be preserved. He was a pragmatist, a realist, yet at the same time one who pursued high ideals. He was a real politician who governed in the real world he faced, at the same time he sought to change it.

On Saturday, Barack Obama addressed the House Democratic caucus, and he quoted Lincoln:

"I am not bound to win, but I'm bound to be true. I'm not bound to succeed, but I'm bound to live up to what light I have."

How very appropriate for that sentiment to have echoed with the Obama, for the nature of his approach to leadership, more closely than any President since, resembles Lincoln’s own. He too demonstrates an understanding for the need to carefully balance one’s sense of duty with political realities. Obama’s patience- his powerful patience- is much like Lincoln’s own. Both waited to act, thought over what they were doing, and took the long, difficult road, rather than acting impulsively.

Obama’s thoughtfulness is also much like Lincoln’s. Unlike so many other leaders, he is both open to being convinced by good ideas, and willing to admit his own error. There was a powerful moment, during the health care summit, when John McCain brought up the Florida Medicare Advantage deal, claiming it was unfair. Yes, Obama admitted, it was, and he’d prefer to see it gone. There was no attempt to justify it, or deny that McCain had a point. For Obama, the right thing was to simply acknowledge the truth.

And it is, in part, by emulating the best of Lincoln that Obama was able, with obvious help, to usher this health care bill through. After 100 years of trying, the United States has universal health care. And it took a leader with statesmanship much like Lincoln’s to get it done.

And Obama’s own oratory sometimes even broaches the soaring height’s of Lincoln’s own. I am certain some of yesterday’s remarks after the bill passed will be quoted for generations:

In the end, what this day represents is another stone firmly laid in the foundation of the American Dream. Tonight, we answered the call of history as so many generations of Americans have before us. When faced with crisis, we did not shrink from our challenge -- we overcame it. We did not avoid our responsibility -- we embraced it. We did not fear our future -- we shaped it.

*Again, I cannot recommend this lecture series more highly. It has enhanced my understanding of the United States in a way I can hardly articulate. Understanding the American Civil War only serves to enhance your understanding of every aspect of American life: politics, culture, inequality, religion. And beyond that, Blight, who visited the USSC last year, is simply a phenomenal lecturer. The entire series- 26 hour-long lectures- is available entirely free of charge online at the Open Yale site or through iTunes U. Download a few and take a listen. I challenge you not to be blown away.

Tags: Abraham Lincoln, Barack Obama, Hcr