Lincoln Poll in USA TODAY

[JMadonna]

No one will ever know all the factors that Lincoln used to make his decisions. It's all too easy for critics focusing on a specific issue to lay out their case and ignore pertinent details. IMO, Lincoln had goals he wanted to achieve but the constant changes in the fortunes of war forced him to advance his agenda slowly and only when opportunity allowed.

I believe he would have been successful in blunting the political vengeance the radicals wanted as Johnson did without the animosity that Johnson generated. This, along with the flexibility he was criticized for, would have made reconstruction more of a team effort with a better chance for success.