What one word character description set President Lincoln apart?

[David Lockmiller]

What one word quality of character description set President Lincoln favorably apart from many other men in the national government of his time?

Please provide a brief explanation for your choice of words.

[RJNorton]

I think I would say leadership. Lincoln is remembered for his critical role as the leader in preserving the Union and beginning the process that led to the end of slavery in the USA.

[David Lockmiller]

(10-24-2024 10:50 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  I think I would say leadership. Lincoln is remembered for his critical role as the leader in preserving the Union and beginning the process that led to the end of slavery in the USA.

Excellent choice of words, and with very good and succinct reasoning, Roger!

[Rob Wick]

Humility.

Self-explanatory.

Best
Rob

[David Lockmiller]

(10-24-2024 01:35 PM)Rob Wick Wrote:  Humility.

Self-explanatory.

Best
Rob

Excellent, Rob!!!

dictionary.com defines "humility" as: "the quality or condition of being humble; modest opinion or estimate of one's own importance, rank, etc."

Another excellent post.

I ask other members to express their own opinion!!!

[AussieMick]

I like 'Leadership' ... so tried to think of something better and in doing so tried to identify what could be a weakness of someone that's strong as a Leader. True, it doesnt require humility. And obviously there have been many successful Leaders who are now regarded as appalling human beings.

The important point is 'what set him apart from others at that time'. I suggest Focused.
Anybody can be focused ... I'm sure many of his Cabinet were 'focused' and some of the great figures of the past (Napoleon, Churchill even Stalin) were focused.
Lincoln though stayed focused ... always, as far as I know, on what he wanted to achieve. Without being distracted by others or by big-noteing himself. He used the abilities of others and made decisions and was willing to alter them later if they didnt work out.

[David Lockmiller]

(10-24-2024 07:04 PM)AussieMick Wrote:  I like 'Leadership' ... so tried to think of something better and in doing so tried to identify what could be a weakness of someone that's strong as a Leader. True, it doesnt require humility. And obviously there have been many successful Leaders who are now regarded as appalling human beings.

The important point is 'what set him apart from others at that time'. I suggest Focused.
Anybody can be focused ... I'm sure many of his Cabinet were 'focused' and some of the great figures of the past (Napoleon, Churchill even Stalin) were focused.
Lincoln though stayed focused ... always, as far as I know, on what [Lincoln] wanted to achieve. . . .

Excellent. As I was reading this, I thought of a post that I recently made regarding the appointment of Grant to be Lieutenant General of the Armies and "what he [Lincoln] wanted to achieve."

"I shall then make a very short speech to you, to which I desire you to reply, for an object."

In that reply, Lincoln asked the general to incorporate two points: "1st To say something which shall prevent or obviate any jealousy of you from any of the other generals in the service, and secondly, something which shall put you on as good terms as possible with this Army of the Potomac."

[David Lockmiller]

My choice of words is "fortitude."

Fortitude -- mental and emotional strength in courageously facing difficulty, adversity, danger, or temptation (dictionary.com, slightly altered).

I think that one of his biggest tests exemplifying this quality of character and constitutional duty was the "Dakota 38."

[Dennis Urban]

I like "passionate"

Lincoln had very strong ideals and ideas but he was not above taking advice and and suggestions, of which history records many examples. He would usually find a way to make his ideals and ideas work for the betterment of the country as a whole. That says it all for me.

[David Lockmiller]

(10-25-2024 03:42 PM)Dennis Urban Wrote:  I like "passionate"

Lincoln had very strong ideals and ideas but he was not above taking advice and and suggestions, of which history records many examples. He would usually find a way to make his ideals and ideas work for the betterment of the country as a whole. That says it all for me.

I especially like the part which reads: "he was not above taking advice and and suggestions, of which history records many examples."

The treatment of Indians across the United States would have changed dramatically had President Abraham Lincoln lived. Today, President Biden apologized for the United States regarding the organized disgraceful treatment of Indian school children for a great many decades after the Civil War.

[David Lockmiller]

(10-25-2024 06:45 PM)David Lockmiller Wrote:  

(10-25-2024 03:42 PM)Dennis Urban Wrote:  I like "passionate"

Lincoln had very strong ideals and ideas but he was not above taking advice and and suggestions, of which history records many examples. He would usually find a way to make his ideals and ideas work for the betterment of the country as a whole. That says it all for me.

I especially like the part which reads: "he was not above taking advice and suggestions, of which history records many examples."

The treatment of Indians across the United States would have changed dramatically and permanently had President Abraham Lincoln lived. Today, President Biden apologized for the United States regarding the organized disgraceful treatment of Indian school children for a great many decades after the Civil War.

In the spirit of what you wrote, Dennis, I should like to add a previous post of mine regarding President Lincoln's response upon learning the plight (a condition, state, or situation, especially an unfavorable or unfortunate one) of American Indians.

The president told a friend that [Episcopal Bishop Henry B.] Whipple “came here the other day and talked with me about the rascality of this Indian business until I felt it down to my boots.”. . . He pledged that “if we get through this war, and if I live, this Indian system shall be reformed.” [82 – Henry B. Whipple, Light and Shadows of a Long Episcopate: Being Reminiscences and Recollections of the Right Reverend Henry Benjamin Whipple, (1899), pages 136-137.] Similarly, in the winter of 1863-1864, he told Joseph La Barge, a steam-boat captain who protested against corrupt government Indian agents, “wait until I get this Rebellion off my hands, and I will take up this question and see that justice is done the Indian.” [83 – Hiram M. Chittenden, History of Early Steamboat Navigation on the Missouri River: Life and Adventures of Joseph La Barge, (1903), page 342.] To Father John Beason, a noted Indian clergyman, he said “that as soon as the war was settled his attention should be given to the Indians and it should not cease until justice to their and my satisfaction was secured. [84 – John Beason to Henry W. Bellows, (1862), Bellow Papers, MHi.] In his 1862 annual message to Congress, Lincoln urged that it change the system. “With all my heart I thank you for your recommendation to have our whole Indian system reformed,” Whipple wrote the president. “It is a stupendous piece of wickedness and as we fear God ought to be changed.” Though Lincoln did not live to see this recommendation implemented, he gave a significant boost to the movement that eventually overthrew the corrupt system. [85 – Nichols, Lincoln and the Indians, page 145.]

The source of the citations is Professor Michael Burlingame in his Lincoln Prize winning (2010) book, Abraham Lincoln: A Life, Vol. TWO, (2008), at pages 483-484.

I initiated the thread titled "RE: Had President Lincoln lived, . . . ."