Lincoln's Leadership

[JMadonna]

Lincoln had the ability to take both sides of an issue and argue them effectively before deciding on what was right. In the movie you saw him do this effectively with his cabinet. He was able persuade Thadeus Stevens by showing their goals were the same only the methods to achieve them were different. This ability was sorely missed when Andrew Johnson took over. His goals were not the same as Congress.
When he decided on a course he pursued it doggedly. His most important decision was sticking with the emancipation proclamation even though many told him to temper it or he would not be re-nominated by the party. Now, it seems like a no-brainer, but at the time political wisdom was strongly against that decision and bet that it would doom him.