Congressman Lincoln: The Making of Americas Greatest President

by Chris DeRose

The first fully realized portrait of Abraham Lincoln’s ambitious and controversial early political career written by the “gifted young historian” (Richard Norton Smith) and author of Founding Rivals.

Chris DeRose, the “gifted young historian” (Richard Norton Smith) who penned one of The Washington Post ’s “Best Political Books” with 2011’s Founding Rivals , draws from the unpublished “Papers of Abraham Lincoln,” and other rare sources, to deliver the first fully realized portrait of Lincoln’s controversial early political career.

The years 1847 through 1849, though marked by defeat and divisiveness for Washington’s newest arrival, ultimately defined Lincoln’s future as president during America’s darkest days. With keen insights sprung from his exhaustive research, DeRose portrays Congressman Lincoln as a leader torn between principle and viability, who once nearly dueled a political adversary; a master strategist and member of the Whig party; a reluctant husband saddled with a tormented private life; and more—in a biography so timely and relevant that House Speaker John A. Boehner quoted Congressman Lincoln at length in a 2013 address to House Republicans, excerpting Lincoln’s warnings about government debt “growing with a rapidity fearful to contemplate.”

Genres: Biography, History, American History, Presidents, Civil War, Nonfiction, Politics

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 29, 2013

Reviews

[Aaron Million · Rating 1 out of 5]

DeRose deserves credit for attempting to tackle a surprisingly overlooked portion of Abraham Lincoln's life: his sole term as a Whig Representative to the U.S. House from 1847-1849. With an almost never-ending supply of Lincoln biographies to choose from, few delve deeply into his brief Congressional career and how some of things that Lincoln witnessed while there may have influenced some of the decisions that he later made as President. Unfortunately, the decision to focus on this time frame is the best part about this book.

The writing quality is poor: DeRose often shifts gears from one paragraph to the next with little or no segue. Other times there are some breaks within the chapters to denote a different topic. One chapter is titled "The Trouble with Oregon"; yet DeRose, four pages into it, dispatches with that subject and switches to the concern over Zachary Taylor not yet accepting the Whig nomination for President. This makes for a disjointed appearance for the reader, as one wonders if he missed something that caused such a sudden change in the narrative.

DeRose also peppers the book with phrases such as "Lincoln probably...", or "It is almost certain that Lincoln..." while not providing any further substantial proof for making these assumptions. Case in point: on page 73, he writes " During his stay in Kentucky, Lincoln had the chance to meet Henry Clay...." Now, this in and of itself does not say that the two men actually met. Yet it certainly implies that they did. To bolster this assertion, in the index under Henry Clay, it lists "Lincoln's meeting with, 73". So, DeRose is assuming that the they met. However, his source note for this is only a link to the text of the speech that Clay was giving that day. That does not confirm in any way that Clay and Lincoln met. I do not, in the slightest respect, to presume to be a Lincoln scholar or all-knowing about the man. However, this is the 13th book that I have read that is specifically about Lincoln, not to mention many other books where he or Clay appear in the narrative, and also a biography of Clay. In none of those books do I remember ever reading that the two men met. In fact, I seem to remember that they did not meet (because Lincoln was such an ardent admirer of the older man and had wanted to meet him). Unfortunately, I cannot remember exactly where I read that they did not meet. However, I have to think that, had a meeting between these two giants of American history actually taken place, it would have been noted in many books over the ensuing 170 years. Also, there is no correspondence from Lincoln to anyone stating that he met Clay. Considering how much he respected him, surely this is not something that Lincoln, a prolific letter writer as were many people during that time period, would have failed to inform friends and political associates about. My point is this: unless DeRose has certain proof that they met, it would be best to not imply such a meeting in the narrative, and then assume it in the index. A safer alternative would be something such as: "Lincoln attended a speech given by Clay in Louisville. While Lincoln revered Clay and was a follower of his policies, there is no proof that the two actually met, even though it is possible that they did so, however briefly."

The epilogue is strangely titled "The Emancipation of Abraham Lincoln". This section is bizarre; I fail to understand what point DeRose is trying to make here. It marks an odd end to the book, including a comment from someone about how the deaths in WWI show that Lincoln's work was not done. The book would have been better off without this odd thought pattern. A better ending would have been with DeRose's fairly solid discussion of Lincoln's attempt to obtain the position of Director of the Federal Land Office in Taylor's administration. I had not really read about that anywhere else to the degree that DeRose talks of it. Unfortunately, immediately after that, he dismisses Lincoln's rejection of Taylor's offer to be the territorial governor of Oregon territory in a brief paragraph.

Lincoln's term in the U.S House should be looked at closer by Lincoln scholars. DeRose recognizes this. Unfortunately, his execution of this task is poorly done.

Grade: D-

[Christopher · Rating 2 out of 5]

As the title indicates, this book treats Abraham Lincoln's activities as a US Representative in the 30th Congress (1847-1849). The author of this book, who is basically a political consultant, can't write to save his life. The book is just a jumble of facts, with no analysis to speak of, and often there seems to be no rhyme or reason to what appears, much less any indication of a broader understanding of the political and historical significance of the facts. Some paragraphs are just one sentence, other ones are longer but contain disparate subjects that don't relate to each other.

The House was controlled by the generally anti-slavery Whigs during this session, and Lincoln was the sole Whig from Illinois (and seemingly a staunch opponent of slavery). The author talks about slavery from the modern perspective, which means that it's all awful and there's no sense of what the "other" side was up to. More to the point, one of the issues in historiography is what Lincoln himself thought. In "dealing" with this issue, DeRose doesn't give a very clear indication of what the various views are (vaguely characterizing the hostile interpretations as "insincerity, opportunism, or tardiness", 230-31), and can vouch for Lincoln's acceptability to modern notions on race by pointing out a commendation by an abolitionist and noting that Lincoln always voted against slavery in Congress. That's all good and well, but there's a world's difference between opposing slavery in the ante bellum period and being a holder of modern ideas about race. But you wouldn't get any sense of that from this book.

The lack of any sense of historical acumen or biographical understanding can be readily gleamed from the pathetic epilogue entitled "The Emancipation of Abraham Lincoln". I have no idea what he is supposed to have been "emancipated" from (or by whom), and frankly I doubt the author does, either. The chapter is just a meaningless miscellany of disjointed anecdotes concerning the later careers of people Lincoln knew in Congress as these (somehow) pertain to Lincoln's later life. Or so I would guess (there really is no logic here).

Apart from talk of slavery, the big issue of the day was how to deal with the war with Mexico, which the president (Polk) started and the Whigs opposed. One gets the impression that the author thinks the situation comparable to the Democrats opposing Bush on Iraq and Afghanistan and that he would support the Democrats just as he does the Whigs. But nothing is explained very clearly.

Another hot issue that's barely treated is the dispute over "internal improvements", meaning the constitutionality of the Federal government spending money on local projects like canals and railroads. The Democratic view, going back to Jefferson and strongly endorsed by Andrew Jackson, was hostile to such spending, which the Whigs (like their successors the Republicans) were in favor of it. The author discusses at length a speech Lincoln gave in favor of a bill authorizing money on such a project (in Illinois!), and here's his treatment of the actual issue: "Lincoln compared this argument [i.e., President Polk's view that such spending was unconstitutional] in Polk's hands to a gun that fires wide of the mark and knocks the shooter over. Lincoln held up treatises on American constitutional law as proof of his point, and argued that states couldn't afford to make the improvements. How could they? Could they pay for a new improvement from the proceeds of another?" (183). This is nonsense as presented. First, how is Polk supposed to have harmed himself with his argument? Nothing said here supports any such conclusions. As for the actual issue of constitutionality, the author seems to imagine that waving around some books on law somehow settled the matter. On what grounds exactly? What were Polk's arguments about the unconstitutionality of such spending? Didn't he have books to wave around of his own? And then the author shifts through non-sequitur to the argument that the states couldn't afford such spending. Well, if they couldn't, how could the Federal government? In any event, if one viewed the matter as unconstitutional, the practicalities of how deep the pockets of various levels of government are are irrelevant. Presumably, the author (as a vested member of the democratic ruling class of today) takes it to be self-evident that of course the Federal government can spend whatever it wants on whatever it wants, and the views of somebody from the nineteenth-century like Jefferson or Jackson or Polk that don't fit in with modern sensibilities are seemingly of no consequence to the author (or more probably don't even register as acceptable views at all with him).

Finally, the last big issue of relevance to Lincoln was the nomination by the Whigs of Gen. Zachary Taylor (who had just won renown in the Mexican War that the Whigs opposed) as their candidate for the 1848 presidential election, despite the fact that very little was known of the man's views (and he was a southern slave-holder, a strange candidate for the anti-slavery Whigs). Lincoln supported Taylor's nomination for practical reasons (the next most likely Whig candidate, Henry Clay, was considered unlikely to win). After Lincoln's faction got their wish and Taylor was nominated (later to win the election), the author comments: "…the Whigs had completed one of the most cynical acts in American political history… But that doesn't mean they were wrong" (209). What a disgusting and contemptible attitude. This man has (according to the book cover) been a "political strategist who for sixteen years has elected candidates up and down the ballot across five different states". Small wonder the political system is so dysfunctional if the only criterion for evaluating a campaign is whether it can win or not.

If you want a concatenation of disconnected facts of no particular significance, here's your book. If you want any substantive analysis of Lincoln in his contemporary context or of the historical importance of the actions he took and the events he was party to, this book is a waste of paper.

[Glenn Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lincoln's life is a learning lesson for all of us when dealing with set backs. This offers a number of life lessons in a short time period that is not often covered in the many biographies of Abe.

For that weird growing movement that is trying to remove Abe Lincoln from the US Currency for the movements wrong belief that Lincoln was racist, this is one of many books that should be read. He was not racist, was not pro-slavery and actually tried to get laws passed in Congress in 1847 to end slavery in the nations capital.

Most bios of Lincoln glimpse over his life in the 40's and 50's and instead focus from 1858 on. His time in congress is an interesting time in both his life and America's time line. Abe fought hard to become the congressional rep and worked to make a difference. Abe worked hard building a network that helped to get him elected.

While in DC during his short stint as a congressman, he worked hard to block the US from war with Mexico, taking on President Polk in legal challenges for the justification and the continuation of the war. While he did not succeed in ending the war, he did build his name brand.

For the 1848 Presidential elections, he fought hard to have General Taylor, a Southerner, elected. It is during this time that Abe built his national network that helped his 1860 win.

As for learning lessons, how he succeeding is very important to study and more so how he dealt with set backs. After he was out of Congress, he tried very hard to be the head of the land inspectors office yet was denied. A learning lesson here-one of the people that denied him him the slot destroyed his own presidential chances with that decision-William Seward-chose to not appoint him. Another lesson-knowing ones career goal to help decide offers: Lincoln was offered the governorship to Oregon but he turned it down as he felt that Oregon would take him out of the spotlight for future bids to the White House.

A good book, well researched, well written.

[John Yingling · Rating 5 out of 5]

I seem to recall reading in the past characterizations of Lincoln's one term as a Congressman as undistinguished or that he did nothing but occupy a seat in Congress. The author clearly shows that this was not the case, that indeed he made his mark upon his time there and was a respected member who made positive contributions to its work. The author is such a good writer, in addition to being a first-rate historian, and I thoroughly enjoyed the way he made all the people come alive on the pages. This is they way I like books on history to be written.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fair book focusing on Lincoln's election to and service in Congress in the 1840s, and how those experiences helped shape his own choices as President, like he treated his generals in war and how he handled his patronage powers.

DeRose shows that while Lincoln came from humble beginnings, he was considered a Whig power player in the late 40s, at least regionally and with promises of moving to greater heights. This book shows him as far from the complete dark horse he is sometimes presented as.

In some parts DeRose seems almost fawning, but that can be hard to resist with Lincoln. I did like the attention he paid to noting Lincoln's anti-slavery views and votes during this part of his life. While he was certainly no radical, this shows that Lincoln was consistently anti-slavery early in his career. I look forward to more books on the subject of Lincoln and slavery/emancipation, to get a more well rounded view of Lincoln's beliefs, actions, and evolution on the subject.

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very detailed account of Lincoln's early political career with a short review of the several other career paths he might have taken after his single term in the house. Most interesting tome was the various bifurcation that might have radically altered US history. By not being chosen earlier, he missed being present at an event likely to have killed or injured him. After his term, he might have wound up governing the Oregon territory.

[Paul F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good history of Lincoln’ s early years. Amazing how the government hasn’t changed since the beginning, always fighting in the parties as to what is best, not always what is best for the country but for themselves.

[Julie Custard Riordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Learned some new facts...

[Vincent · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting chapter in the Lincoln story.

[Jan Z · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was well researched but not the writing was dull and rambling.

[Joe Rennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great account of Lincoln's years as a congressman

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Congressman Lincoln: The Making of America’s Greatest President, by Chris DeRose (2013) is among the latest and most engaging historical studies of Lincoln’s path to the Presidency. With only eight years as an Illinois State Representative (1834-1842) and one two year term in the U.S. House of Representatives (1847-49), Abraham Lincoln came to the presidency with rather sparse credentials. The author presents a detailed, but highly readable and informative study of Lincoln’s political battles to secure the coveted Congressional term and his tireless efforts while holding that seat to establish himself in national politics. (De Rose explains that while most important Members of the U.S. House of Representatives in our day serve multiple terms, in Lincoln’s time serving one term in a rotation or after fierce battles among local party members was more customary. ) Lincoln’s actual term was not fully two years, but from November 1847 until the end of the 30th Congress in March 1849. In addition to serving his constituency (the 7th Congressional District), Lincoln worked with much skill and energy to participate in Whig political affairs by promoting the candidacy of successful general Zachary Taylor. Despite his opposition to the Polk Administration’s conduct of the “unjust and unconstitutional” Mexican War (1846-48), Lincoln wanted his Whig party to obtain the power and patronage of the Presidency by nominating a widely popular hero of that war (General Taylor) instead of a more strongly partisan representative of Whig principles (Henry Clay). This book shows how the pragmatic Lincoln fought and campaigned throughout the North East (Pennsylvania, New England and New York) as a sitting Congressman in 1848 to further the Whig cause by supporting Taylor’s candidacy. While his term in Congress was filled with conscientious effort, principled votes and valuable collaboration with some of the most important political leaders of the time, it was seen by Lincoln himself and some others as a disappointment in that patronage for himself and Whig supporters in Illinois was not forthcoming after the much anticipated Taylor Administration came into power in March 1849. As the only member of the Whig delegation from Illinois and one of the most energetic political advocates for the only appreciable Whig Presidential Administration in recent decades, Lincoln’s failure to secure coveted patronage jobs for supporters in Illinois left him particularly embittered and in position years later to join in the formation of a new Republican Party. The furious efforts that produced no appreciable patronage rewards in 1849, prompted him to remember twelve years later – when he was the incoming President – to establish the foundations of the Republican Party based upon a more thorough and sweeping “spoils system”. --- This is an interesting and skillfully written study of Lincoln as a tireless and disciplined politician during the one term in Congress he served. It is a must for Lincoln scholars and students of the Pre-Civil War period.

[Christopher · Rating 3 out of 5]

A decently informative look into Lincoln's single term as a Congressman in the 30th Congress. It's interesting as it focuses on Lincoln as Whig Party man rather than Lincoln as Commander in Chief or Lincoln the Emancipator. Lincoln the office seeker is a more human and openly political animal and DeRose does a decent job of taking the reader through his attempts at securing party unity and viable Whig candidates.

Any book about Congress inevitably gets bogged down in procedural and parliamentary votes and roll calls and this one is no exception. So at times it's a little dry but takes a nice overview of the Whig oppositiion to the Mexican-American War, their opposition to Polk, Lincoln's Spot Resolutions, and the his efforts to secure the nomination of Taylor. Particularly enjoyable was the discussion of the allegations of hypocrisy against the Whigs for nominating Taylor, a war hero from a war the Whigs opposed, anhd Lincoln's response (i.e. noting that the Democrats had ridden the coattails of Andrew "Old Hickory" Jackson for the past six presidential elections.)

The book sometimes falters when it does on lengthy tangents of Lincoln's conduct AFTER his time in Congress (usually as President) in an attempt to connect some action in the 30th Congress with his behavior later and is a bit jarring from a narrative standpoint and doesn't usually flow logically or analytically.

Overall a nice examination of a brief chapter in Lincoln's life.

[David Kent · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Chris DeRose takes a more detailed look at a period in Abraham Lincoln's life that is normally glossed over in other biographies - his single term as a U.S. Congressman. The first few chapters highlight the political status of the time, as well as the political wrangling between different factions both within and external to the Whig party. The book goes into various aspects of the key question of the day, slavery. Doing so makes it clear that the post-Civil War reinvention of history to suggest the South wasn't fighting to maintain and expand slavery is hogwash.

Despite dismissals by others that Lincoln's term in congress was lacking, DeRose shows that many important decisions were made and that Lincoln was much more active than most freshman congressmen. Unlike first termers in general, Lincoln was willing to stand up for what he believed, even when it wasn't particularly popular. Several actions related to slavery that would become important later, e.g., the end of the Mexican War and how California and New Mexico were brought in to the Union, were argued and somewhat decided. Critical friendships with players that would be allies or adversaries during his own presidency are also discussed.

Overall, this is much-needed survey of Lincoln's time in Congress.

[Stephanie McCown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much has been written about Abraham Lincoln's time as president, but remarkably little has been written about his time as a congressman. It was this time in congress that helped shape his presidency, but it is chronically overlooked. I really enjoyed this book because it shared the story of what would serve as Lincoln's run-up to his candidacy for and ultimate election as President of the United States. Lincoln has always been a force to be reckoned with, and he was no less so as a congressman than he was as president.

President Lincoln is my favorite president, and this book helped me gain a better understanding of the events and experiences he had which helped make him one of the most notable, best loved, and honorable men who has ever held office in the entire history of the US.

The writing style is engaging, and keeps the reader interested page after page. I was sorry to see the book come to an end, which means the book was a success in my eyes. Check it out!

[Yosef Shapiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covers an often neglected period of Abraham Lincoln's life. The author points out that only two books have been written about this period of Lincoln's life. So, it is an often overlooked period of his life. He was only in Congress for one term. But during that time, he made friends with many people that would play important roles in his administration. He was able to watch President Polk's administration and learned a lot from the way it operated. He also become well known around the country as he campaigned for Zacahry Taylor. This book is important for anyone that considers themselves a serious student of Lincoln history. But, it may not be as interesting for the casual reader.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chris DeRose's presentation on "pre-presidential" Lincoln adds a significant context to his life and the background he brought to the extraordinarily troubled country (to say the least) as president. Though not a Washington insider, like Seward, Lincoln became acquainted with many of the major players in the upheaval of the 1860's during his time in Congress a dozen years earlier. DeRose brings this experience to light with his wonderful storytelling abilities.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first part of the book is a slog as we go through the minutiae of Illinois politics that got Lincoln elected, but once Abe gets to DC, it really picks up. Abe's term didn't have a huge historical impact, but there was ample prelude to the coming war, the current war, and many of the political personalities of the day. And in his spare time, Lincoln invented a device that would make him the first and only president ever to hold a patent.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love reading about Abraham Lincoln, but this is a little too focused on one aspect of his life -- 1847-1849, his years in Congress. I did read the first couple of chapters, but quickly lost interest.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting. Chris used some great sources and I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Lincoln's days in the House.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Audiobook didn't consistently hold my attention. Some interesting Lincoln anecdotes. Good review of what the Whig Party stood for.