Robert Todd Lincoln --The vitals

[Gene C]

Was he a giant? That is a matter of opinion.

He was able to achieve the office of Sec of War, and to be considered a possible candidate for President, without actively pursuing either of those positions. He was active in Republican politics. He did not choose the attention those positions brought. Unfortunately for him, he got attention because of his mothers actions and how he tried to protect her. He had her committed, not to an insane asylum, but to a care facility more like a rest home. Mary's manipulation and a political do-gooder had her released before her "rest" could accomplish its intended results. Robert tried to do what he thought best for his mother under the circumstances. Her institutionalization probably could have been handled better, but we have the advantage of hind sight, he had the disadvantage of dealing with an unstable mother on an almost daily basis, who also put a major strain on his marriage.

I don't know enough about the Pullman strike to comment on that.

Robert was a man of many talents, who did not want the attention and publicity those talents, and his family history brought him.
It's hard to be the son or daughter of a very famous person, you are always measured against their success. Some would consider him to be a giant because of his talents and family, but he chose to try to avoid the public fame and attention that his parents got. While alive, Abraham Lincoln and Mary, received more criticism than any other living president (we won't count President Trump yet) Robert didn't want that, he seemed to prefer to live in contrast, in the shadows.