[close] Lincoln's words ring with great rigor, clarity, and simplicity when compared to most of today's political utterances. Here we read his witty testimonial for a brand of soap, his sharp commentaries in the "rat hole" letter to a New York firm, his family correspondence to a spendthrift brother, and letters to a bereaved daughter, an angry general, and many humorous and satirical responses to political challenges--as well as those great moments of wisdom in his speeches and letters during the critical times in his career and in America's history. [close]