History Biography Leadership

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln (Summary)

by Doris Kearns Goodwin

Imagine winning the presidency and then deliberately surrounding yourself with your fiercest political enemies—the very men who called you a 'backwoods buffoon' and 'the original gorilla.' This is exactly what Abraham Lincoln did. He appointed his three main rivals for the Republican nomination to the most powerful positions in his cabinet, a move that seemed like political suicide but would prove to be an act of unparalleled genius.

Appoint Your Enemies to the Most Important Jobs

Lincoln believed the most qualified and ambitious men should serve the country, regardless of their personal feelings toward him. He assembled a cabinet of his chief political competitors, knowing their diverse strengths were essential for the Union's survival.

His primary rival for the 1860 Republican nomination, William H. Seward, expected to be president. Lincoln not only made him Secretary of State but weathered Seward's initial attempts to undermine him, eventually winning his deep loyalty. Seward went from writing a condescending letter telling Lincoln how to run the government to becoming his closest confidant.

Take the Blame, Give Away the Credit

A key to Lincoln's leadership was his willingness to take responsibility for failures while generously giving credit for successes to his subordinates, fostering deep loyalty and encouraging risk-taking.

After the disastrous Battle of Gettysburg, when General Meade failed to pursue and destroy Lee's retreating army, Lincoln drafted a blistering letter of criticism. However, he never sent it, putting it aside with the note, 'never sent, and never signed.' He absorbed the frustration himself rather than demoralizing his top general.

Master the Art of Timing

Lincoln possessed an incredible sense of timing, often waiting for public opinion to ripen or for a key event to occur before making a decisive move. He didn't lead by charging ahead but by preparing the ground for his policies to succeed.

He deliberately waited to issue the Emancipation Proclamation until after a Union military victory at the Battle of Antietam. He knew that releasing it after a string of losses would seem like a desperate, weak gesture, but releasing it from a position of strength gave it immense moral and political force.

A Well-Told Story is More Powerful Than an Order

Lincoln frequently used humor and storytelling to make a point, defuse tension, or gently guide his cabinet members toward his own way of thinking without resorting to direct commands.

When cabinet members would argue fiercely over policy, Lincoln would often interrupt with a long, folksy anecdote that seemed completely unrelated. By the time he finished, tempers had cooled, and the story’s subtle moral had often illuminated the path forward, making his own position seem like common sense.

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