Ronald C. White Jr. > Quotes

“One day during the siege, Grant was observed walking the outer line when he encountered a mule-team driver beating and cursing one of the mules. He ordered the man to stop. The animal’s abuser, seeing a man with a blouse and no sign of rank, turned and began to swear at him. Grant had the man arrested and brought to his headquarters. Only then did the mule driver realize whom he had insulted. The man was ordered to be tied up by his thumbs. When released, the contrite soldier apologized for his language, telling Grant he did not know to whom he was speaking. Grant explained that he had punished the soldier not because of what he’d said to his commanding general: “I could defend myself, but the mule could not.”
― Ronald C. White Jr., American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant

“Lincoln’s genius was his ability to draw upon the talents of others, meld together diverse personalities who often did not trust one another, and then listen to their advice, recognizing that it was sometimes wiser than his own.”
― Ronald C. White Jr., A. Lincoln

“After his failed political career, Lincoln often pondered the question of the purpose of the meaning of life. In 1850 [ten years before he was elected President], Lincoln told Herdon [his law partner] "How hard, oh how hard it is to die and leave one's country no better than if one had never lived.”
― Ronald C White

“I will not hesitate to exhaust the powers thus vested in the Executive…for the purpose of securing to all citizens of the United States the peaceful enjoyment of the rights guaranteed to them by the Constitution and laws. —ULYSSES S. GRANT, Proclamation, May 3, 1871”
― Ronald C. White Jr., American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant

“Lincoln’s political grammar always gravitated to the future tense.”
― Ronald C. White Jr., A. Lincoln

“After a siege of 293 days, Grant forced the Confederates to abandon Petersburg and Richmond on the same day.”
― Ronald C. White Jr., American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant

“WITH NO REPLY from Halleck to his October 26 request for a plan of operations, Grant moved forward on his own initiative on November 2. He telegraphed the general in chief that he had “commenced a movement” on Grand Junction, a sought-after prize in West Tennessee that took its name from the intersection of the east–west Memphis and Charleston and the north–south Mississippi Central railroad lines. Grant intended to assemble five divisions there and move south into Mississippi toward Holly Springs and Grenada.”
― Ronald C. White Jr., American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant

“If you would win a man to your cause, first convince him that you are his sincere friend.”
― Ronald C. White Jr., A. Lincoln

“Abraham’s first teacher24 in Indiana was Andrew Crawford. In addition to teaching spelling and grammar, he instructed the children in courtesy and manners, including the art of introducing and receiving guests. A student would leave the schoolhouse, and as he or she reentered another student would introduce the guest to all the children in the room.”
― Ronald C. White Jr., A. Lincoln

“AN EARLY FOUNDATION of Lincoln’s ability to speak was laid in his reading of William Scott’s Lessons in Elocution.”
― Ronald C. White Jr., The Eloquent President: A Portrait of Lincoln Through His Words

“The convention was noteworthy for the reappearance of Democratic Party politicians from the southern states. The slogan for the convention was, “This is a White Man’s Country; Let White Men Rule.”
― Ronald C. White Jr., American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant

“The Amboy Times captured the distinctiveness of Lincoln’s maturing political speaking, observing, “His language is pure11 and respectful, he attacks no man’s character or motives, but fights with arguments.”
― Ronald C. White Jr., A. Lincoln

“In Hudson, John Brown would assert his indictment of slavery to anybody who would listen. Jesse listened.”
― Ronald C. White, Jr., American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant

“At the heart of his lecture was a definition of his understanding of the calling of a lawyer. “As a peacemaker the lawyer has a superior opportunity of being a good man.” Here Lincoln offered his most practical advice: “Discourage litigation.” Life in the frontier states was marked by disputes. Rural and townsfolk were ready to “go to law” over the least aggravation. Lincoln’s counsel: “Persuade your neighbors to compromise whenever you can. Point out to them how the nominal winner is often the real loser—in fees, expenses, and waste of time.”
― Ronald C. White Jr., A. Lincoln

“American Presbyterians strove to balance a high view of God with a low view of humanity.”
― Ronald C. White Jr., A. Lincoln

“All the romance of feeling that men in high places are above personal considerations and act only from motives of pure patriotism, and for the general good of the public has been destroyed. An inside view proves too truly very much the reverse. —ULYSSES S. GRANT to WILLIAM T. SHERMAN, September 18, 1867”
― Ronald C. White Jr., American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant

“Loyalty to the nation ALL THE TIME. Loyalty to the government when it deserves it.”
― Ronald C. White Jr., American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant

“The dogmas of the quiet past,76 are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new,77 so we must think anew, and act anew.”
― Ronald C. White Jr., A. Lincoln

“The shepherd drives the wolf19 from the sheep’s throat, for which the sheep thanks the shepherd as a liberator, while the wolf denounces him for the same act as the destroyer of liberty, especially if the sheep was a black one.”
― Ronald C. White Jr., A. Lincoln

“In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war. The government will not assail you. You can have no conflict, without being yourselves the aggressors. You have no oath registered in Heaven to destroy the government, while I shall have the most solemn one to “preserve, protect and defend” it.”
― Ronald C. White Jr., The Eloquent President: A Portrait of Lincoln Through His Words

“Lincoln enhanced the ability of his audience to hear him by his practice of speaking slowly.”
― Ronald C. White Jr., The Eloquent President: A Portrait of Lincoln Through His Words

“Grant’s aggressive decision to press forward toward Vicksburg in November 1862, stood in stark contrast with the tentativeness of other major Union commanders. McClellan hesitated after his incomplete victory at Antietam on September 17, allowing Lee to cross back over the Potomac into the safety of Virginia. Buell, following his strategic victory at Perryville on October 8, did not pursue a bloodied Bragg.”
― Ronald C. White Jr., American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant

“Don’t kneel to me. That is not right. You must kneel to God only, and thank Him for the liberty you will enjoy hereafter.”
― Ronald C. White Jr., A. Lincoln

“LINCOLN WROTE for the ear. Most politicians and academics write for the eye. Lincoln often spoke or whispered out loud before putting his Faber pencil to paper. He was fascinated by the sound of words. I contend that even his written communications, such as the conclusions of his annual messages to Congress, even when he knew they were to be read by clerks, contained the marks of his best oratory. Lincoln’s pattern was to speak or read his addresses slowly. The average person speaks at about 150 or 160 words per minute. Lincoln spoke 105 to 110 words per minute.4 His slower speed was an aid to hearers, especially in an outdoor environment without the aid of the technology of loudspeakers. Before starting this journey, may I suggest taking the time to hear the selection of Lincoln’s words from each speech at the beginning of each chapter. Speak them aloud. Do so slowly, as Lincoln would have done. This simple exercise will be helpful preparation to enter more fully into a portrait of Lincoln’s eloquence.”
― Ronald C. White Jr., The Eloquent President: A Portrait of Lincoln Through His Words

“Crittenden Plan because it would permit slavery to expand into the West. Congressman”
― Ronald C. White Jr., A. Lincoln

“he looked like some hoosier just starting for home from California, with store clothes and a biled shirt on.”
― Ronald C. White Jr., A. Lincoln

“In 1835, five”
― Ronald C. White, Jr., American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses S. Grant

“Look, men, there is Jackson34 standing like a stone wall.”
― Ronald C. White Jr., A. Lincoln

“In two days, Lincoln wrote two completely different letters to the commanders who had won victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg. The letters reflected his quite different views of the two generals. Meade had fought well in a defensive posture in a battle he had not sought, but had failed to follow up that victory.”
― Ronald C. White Jr., A. Lincoln

“Scott’s “Anaconda Plan” failed to consider what the Southern troops would be doing while the Northern troops took several months to travel to and sail down the Mississippi. Lincoln knew that the public would never have the patience for Scott’s plan. In listening to his daily visitors, he came to understand that his Northern audience needed to see some results if he and the Union would retain their support.”
― Ronald C. White Jr., A. Lincoln