Uncool History - Team of Rivals

Jeff's Uncool history series continues with a look back Abraham Lincoln's early presidential history.

"Team of Rivals" by Doris Kearns Goodwin.

There has been about a bizillion books written about Abraham Lincoln but I kind of feel like this one is a very appropriate one for today's times. In all off these modern political wranglings about partisanship and non-partisanship most of what you see today is all a bunch of bunk. It's all talk. What's cool about 'Team of Rivals' is that Abraham Lincoln actually did it...

The gist: When Lincoln was elected, that was pretty much the final straw that started the Civil War. Nobody thought the dude was all that. But he did something that few have done before or since: He brought in the smartest, best people at their jobs, even if they were his enemies. He brought into his cabinet THREE guys he had run against and beaten in the presidential election. Imagine if Barack Obama had brought in not only Hilary Clinton but also John McCain and Sarah Palin. It was a gutsy move and it took all of his efforts to coral it and make it work.

Fun book to read that gives a very nice picture of presidential politics back in the day...