Lincoln / Stanton relationship

[John Stanton]

I had a "conversation" with someone, about the relationship between Lincoln and Stanton, but I can't remember who it was. I have since run across a "description" of that relationship. This quote is from "The Life of Charles A. Dana" by James Harison Wilson. "1864. Dana was promoted to Assistant Sec. of War, where Pres. Lincoln occassionallly used him to implement orders, when the recalcitrant Stanton was out of the office". This is perfect, from my point of view, he was -- obstinate, defiant of authority, difficult to manage. Synonym: unruly.

[Gene C]

Another example of Lincoln's greatness. He takes a man who is unruly, and is able to recognize his abilities and qualities out way his shortcomings. Lincoln put what he thought was in the best interest of the country over his own personal feelings.

A difficult job given to a difficult man. I'm reading Stanton's biography, he was a very interesting man. In what I've read, I believe he used his obstinate personality as a shield to protect himself from the reality regarding the difficult tasks he had before him. He was seen on more than one occasion weeping at his desk as a result of a difficult decision and hard action he took that were required to win the war.

[Jim Garrett]

Well put Gene. Stanton was a control freak. He came through when it really counted. He immediateley took control at the Petersen house and kept everything in check emotionally until AL's death. I think he was the second most moved person in the death room, next to Robert Lincoln.

[LincolnMan]

Considering the snub Lincoln got from Stanton in Cincinnati-its a wonder Lincoln chose and worked with him at all- but that was Lincoln.

[Jim Garrett]

Lincoln had such poor self-esteem, he probably didn't catch it...................................not.

[JMadonna]

Actually, Lincoln initially wanted Holt for the job but was talked out of it by Seward and Stevens. He got an earful of Stanton's personality shortcomings but he was also aware of his capabilities and Stanton proved to be the man for the enormous job.

Stanton always gave Lincoln his full opinion good and bad. Unlike Chase, he had no further political ambitions and tried to retire after the fall of Richmond. It was Lincoln that talked him out of it.

[Mylye2222]

The Lincoln-Stanton relationship is extraordinary.
After the humiliation Stanton threw at Lincoln in Cincinnati, how many men would have spent their lives holding grudges after such assault? If those words such as "giraffe" or "ape" were said, it was total déshumanisation. Yet Lincoln loved his nation so much he was able to put it behind for its interests. And besides, he could acknowledge Stantons potential, beyond personal character.

[LincolnMan]

Same thing, by the way, concerning, Edward Everett. The orator had made some very unkind statements about Lincoln prior to Gettysburg. Yet, Lincoln chose not to respond back. He shared the program with him at Gettysburg with his “few appropriate remarks.”

[wpbinzel]

The real value to the relationship was that Stanton was the "bad cop" to Lincoln's "good cop." Lincoln once said, "If I have one vice -- and I can call it nothing else -- it is not to be able to say no! Thank God for not making me a woman, but if He had, I suppose He would have made me just as ugly as He did, and no one would ever have tempted me."

Lincoln routinely endorsed requests, but told the petitioner to get Stanton's endorsement as well, relying on Stanton to sort them out. After Stanton ripped up a request, the petitioner would return the shredded paper to Lincoln and ask that he admonish the Secretary, to which Lincoln would reply that Stanton had enough troubles, and he wasn't going to add to them. In the few instances when Lincoln was insistent, he would tell Stanton, "It will be done, Mr. Secretary," and Stanton complied. In short, they made a very good team.

[Gene C]

I have in my stack of books to read "Lincoln Master of Men, A Study in Character" by Alonzo Rothschild. Haven't read it yet.
Written in 1906, it is how Lincoln dealt with different people during the war years that were not always easy to work with.
One of the chapters is "The Curbing of Stanton"

It's available in Internet Archives - https://archive.org/details/lincolnmast2...2/mode/2up