Leaders in History

I enjoyed both Brother Ward's lecture, as well as the presentations in our lab this week. I find it very interesting to look back at the leadership styles of others, what has worked, and what hasn't.

Brother Ward touched on one of my favorite leaders, Abraham Lincoln, and his great leadership abilities. Lincoln took office at arguably the toughest and most unstable time in our nation's history. His mere election had prompted states to secede from the union, and many more would follow. The issue of slavery, one that he had not had the opportunity to deal with, was literally tearing the country apart. Any policy aspirations that he may have had were now unimportant. He was thrust into a quagmire that our nation's greatest minds, even the founding fathers had been unable to find a solution.

To make matters worse, Lincoln's cabinet was completely divided, and had a difficult time providing him with any good advice. The Union Army went through several commanders, with many of them refusing to listen to Lincoln.

So how did the North come out victorious? In many ways, I am surprised they did. Up until the Battle of Gettysburg in July of 1863, the South was in complete control, pushing up into the North, and searching for that decisive victory that would break the hearts and minds of the people. Some say it was divine providence that saved the Union. That could very well be true, but President Lincoln's leadership played a huge role. He was able to inspire the people, through providing a tremendous example. He was kind and compassionate, yet at the same time, firm and stalwart. After his assassination only a few days after General Lee's surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appamattox Court House in April 1865, Lincoln's casket was carried on a train through the Northern states as it made its way to Springfield, Illinois where he would be laid to rest. It's estimated that millions of Americans lined the train tracks waiting to pay their silent respects to a leader who did so much for those he served, and grew to love. They realized that such dedicated service could only stem from a sincere love for them. Interestingly, there is a picture of the train going through a town, and two little boys are seen leaning out of a window, silently admiring a fallen hero. One of the boys, was a young Theodore Roosevelt. Lincoln's service not only inspired most Americans, but the future generation who would lead the nation through different sets of struggles.