The Reputation of Presidents Takes a Hit in Their Second Term

[Rob Wick]

Roger,

A lot of it would depend on how well Lincoln could have handled the Radicals. While he obviously would have been much smarter than Andrew Johnson it's really hard to say how much more successful he would have been. While his handling of men was superior to many people given how much Lincoln favored reconciliation it would have been a tough row to hope with Stevens or Sumner I believe that Lincoln would have made the treatment of the freedmen his top priority, but the period of Reconstruction was a marathon and not a sprint. Much of it would depend on how well Lincoln set the stage for his successors.

That sai, I would question how strongly we would venerate Lincoln's memory today. He certainly would be strongly admired, but four more years of politics would have taken its toll.

Best
Rob