Lincoln S Campaign Biographies

During the 1860 and 1864 presidential campaigns, Abraham Lincoln was the subject of over twenty campaign biographies. In this innovative study, Thomas A. Horrocks examines the role that these publications played in shaping an image of Lincoln that would resonate with voters and explores the vision of Lincoln that the biographies crafted, the changes in this vision over the course of four years, and the impact of these works on the outcome of the elections. Horrocks investigates Lincoln’s campaign biographies within the context of the critical relationship between print and politics in nineteenth-century America and compares the works about Lincoln with other presidential campaign biographies of the era. Horrocks shows that more than most politicians of his day, Lincoln deeply appreciated and understood the influence and the power of the printed word. The 1860 campaign biographies introduced to America “Honest Abe, the Rail Splitter,” a trustworthy, rugged candidate who appealed to rural Americans. When Lincoln ran for reelection in 1864, the second round of campaign biographies complemented this earlier portrait of Lincoln with a new, paternal figure, “Father Abraham,” more appropriate for Americans enduring a bloody civil war. Closing with a consideration of the influence of these publications on Lincoln’s election and reelection, Lincoln’s Campaign Biographies provides a new perspective for those seeking a better understanding of the sixteenth president and two of the most critical elections in American history.

In a major publishing event, this fascinating volume restores and explains the most decisive campaign biography in U.S. history. In 1860, the original book catapulted Abraham Lincoln to the White House by dramatically warning of slavery's threat to American democracy. More than a century later, the New York "Times" still praised the original campaign biography as most authoritative and influential. The book spawned an enduring legend: From amidst poverty and tragic loss, a small boy rises to become a mighty crusader for justice. In this radiant new edition, Boston Hill Press skillfully restores and illustrates Mr. Lincoln's only major autobiographical effort. (He secretly wrote the initial manuscript. Under his direction, John Locke Scripps, a founder of the Chicago "Tribune," polished and expanded it into a national bestseller.) This restored edition reveals the potent political messages and campaign strategies that the candidate slyly wove into the storyline. This is no dusty reprint; pithy new commentary provides often breathtaking insights. Dramatic campaign speeches reverberate again; rare photographs and posters depict a clean-shaven, youthful candidate, as he was then, before he became the bearded sage of our history books. Readers gain fresh perspective on Mr. Lincoln's heartbreaking childhood, as well as his later career as a fearless moral crusader. Of exceptional interest is a jaw-dropping campaign appearance before a potentially hostile crowd of 12,000 people, when, against all odds, Mr. Lincoln brazenly defied incendiary race-baiting by his opponent. Above all, this remarkable campaign biography reminds us that Abraham Lincoln was a legend well before his presidential deeds. His early life inspired a host of American icons: humble birth in a log cabin; Huckleberry Finn boyhood; self-made man; proverbial country lawyer; passionate antiwar protester; hopelessly idealistic novice; and hardened crusader for justice. The book implicitly addresses a profound question: How do we recognize a great statesman, before the glory? As such, "Vote Lincoln!" is still mandatory reading for modern voters seeking the next Abraham Lincoln. This is a first restored edition issued in softcover during the Lincoln Bicentennial Year of 2009. In July 2010, the publisher, Boston Hill Press, plans to issue an Expanded Edition in hardcover with more illustrations and commentary.

In a major publishing event, this fascinating volume restores and explains the most decisive campaign biography in U.S. history. In 1860, the original book catapulted Abraham Lincoln to the White House by dramatically warning of slavery's threat to American democracy. More than a century later, the New York "Times" still praised the original campaign biography as "most authoritative and influential." The book spawned an enduring legend: From poverty and tragic loss, a small boy rises to become a mighty crusader for justice. In this radiant expanded edition, Boston Hill Press skillfully restores and illustrates Mr. Lincoln's only major autobiographical effort. (He secretly wrote the initial manuscript. Under his direction, John Locke Scripps, a founder of the Chicago "Tribune," polished and expanded it into a national bestseller.) This restored edition reveals the potent political messages and campaign strategies that the candidate slyly wove into the story of his life. This is no dusty reprint; pithy modern commentary provides often breathtaking insights. Dramatic campaign speeches reverberate again. Rare photographs and posters depict an intense, clean-shaven youthful candidate, as he was then, before he became the bearded sage of our history books. Readers gain fresh perspective on a heartbreaking childhood and an early career as a fearless moral crusader. (Of exceptional interest is a jaw-dropping campaign appearance before a potentially hostile crowd of 12,000 people. Against all odds, Mr. Lincoln brazenly defies incendiary race-baiting by his opponent, the formidable incumbent U.S. Senator Stephen Douglas.) Above all this remarkable book reminds us that Abraham Lincoln was a living legend well before his presidential deeds. He was the American experience incarnate: humble birth in a log cabin; Huck Finn boyhood; self-made man; proverbial country lawyer; passionate antiwar protester; hopelessly idealistic reformer; and hardened crusader for justice. This book implicitly addresses the central question of all elections: How do we recognize a great statesman, before the glory? As such, "Vote Lincoln!" is still mandatory reading for modern voters seeking "the next Abraham Lincoln." This is a revised and expanded edition of the first restored edition released for the Lincoln Bicentennial Year of 2009. This expanded 2010 version contains more commentary and illustrations. The volume has over 75 black-and-white photographs, engravings, lithographs, and other illustrations. Several images depict Abraham Lincoln's famous tanned complexion, earned by riding horses as a country lawyer. Other images depict family, friends, opponents, and historical events.

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