- sense of humor
- humility -- including humble origins, being a man of the people, and being able to admit when he was wrong
- he even sometimes took blame that wasn't his
- didn't take things personally
- confident
- had one, chief goal
- was guided by what seemed practicable given the situation
- persistent
- pushed the war despite failures and against contrary special interests
- great communicator -- plain-spoken, logical, connected with his audience, storyteller
- deliberate -- made plans and drafted letters that he didn't always act on or send
- not vengeful -- let bygones be bygone, both big and small
- willing to 'sit on the fence' and not be drawn into vicious partisan politics
- basically had dictatorial powers, but did not abuse them
- ike Washington (and Cincinnatus), he could walk away
- moved slowly on slavery
- built bridges -- for example, with Congress
- curried favor with important influencers, including giving political favors, in pursuit of his one goal
And a few other reflections:
- I can't conceive doing so well as Lincoln, nor even having agreed with all of his policies if I had lived in that time.
- I wonder, though, if maintaining the union justified that terrible war. Could we have got away with no more slavery in new states and territories?
- The sympathizers in England among the cotton industry, etc., were appalling.
