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Douglass and Lincoln: How a Revolutionary Black Leader & a Reluctant Liberator Struggled to End Slavery & Save the Union
Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln had only three meetings, but their exchanges profoundly influenced the course of slavery and the outcome of the Civil War.
Although Abraham Lincoln deeply opposed the institution of slavery, he saw the Civil War at its onset as being primarily about preserving the Union. Frederick Douglass, himself a former slave, by contrast saw the War's mission to be the total and permanent abolition of slavery. And yet, these giants of the nineteenth century, despite their different outlooks, found common ground, in large part through their three historic meetings.
Lincoln first invited Douglass to the White House in August 1862. Well-known for his speeches and his internationally read abolitionist newspaper, Douglass laid out for the president his concerns about how the Union army was discriminating against black soldiers. Douglass, often critical of the president in his speeches and articles, was impressed by Lincoln's response. The following summer when the war was going poorly, the president summoned Douglass to the White House. Fearing that he might not be reelected, Lincoln showed Douglass a letter he had prepared stating his openness to negotiating a settlement to end the Civil War—and leave slavery intact in the South. Douglass strongly advised Lincoln against making the letter public. Lincoln never did; Atlanta fell and he was reelected. Their final meeting was at the White House reception following Lincoln's second inaugural address, where Lincoln told Douglass there was no man in the country whose opinion he valued more and Douglass called the president's inaugural address "sacred."
In elegant prose and with unusual insights, Paul and Stephen Kendrick chronicle the parallel lives of Douglass and Lincoln as a means of presenting a fresh, unique picture of two men who, in their differences, eventually challenged each other to greatness and altered the course of the nation.
Although Abraham Lincoln deeply opposed the institution of slavery, he saw the Civil War at its onset as being primarily about preserving the Union. Frederick Douglass, himself a former slave, by contrast saw the War's mission to be the total and permanent abolition of slavery. And yet, these giants of the nineteenth century, despite their different outlooks, found common ground, in large part through their three historic meetings.
Lincoln first invited Douglass to the White House in August 1862. Well-known for his speeches and his internationally read abolitionist newspaper, Douglass laid out for the president his concerns about how the Union army was discriminating against black soldiers. Douglass, often critical of the president in his speeches and articles, was impressed by Lincoln's response. The following summer when the war was going poorly, the president summoned Douglass to the White House. Fearing that he might not be reelected, Lincoln showed Douglass a letter he had prepared stating his openness to negotiating a settlement to end the Civil War—and leave slavery intact in the South. Douglass strongly advised Lincoln against making the letter public. Lincoln never did; Atlanta fell and he was reelected. Their final meeting was at the White House reception following Lincoln's second inaugural address, where Lincoln told Douglass there was no man in the country whose opinion he valued more and Douglass called the president's inaugural address "sacred."
In elegant prose and with unusual insights, Paul and Stephen Kendrick chronicle the parallel lives of Douglass and Lincoln as a means of presenting a fresh, unique picture of two men who, in their differences, eventually challenged each other to greatness and altered the course of the nation.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published December 26, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
March 22, 2013
I don't think many people realize how instrumental Frederick Douglass was in the mindshift of Abraham Lincoln with regards to blacks, slavery, and freedom. This book describes the relationship between the two brilliant men but doesn't do a fantastic job at explaning how Douglass helped Lincoln's complicated abstract shift (which, I'll admit, would be hard to show).
There are also some incredible stories about Douglass in this book, my favorite story being the Tremont Temple epsidoe outlined in the chapter "I used to be a slave." Also hilarious how Douglass sent Auld a copy of his book when he had finished it. Taunting, swag, yet the man was brilliant and tough as nails and that’s what I love about Douglass. Great stuff.
There are also some incredible stories about Douglass in this book, my favorite story being the Tremont Temple epsidoe outlined in the chapter "I used to be a slave." Also hilarious how Douglass sent Auld a copy of his book when he had finished it. Taunting, swag, yet the man was brilliant and tough as nails and that’s what I love about Douglass. Great stuff.
January 14, 2012
President Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass came from two different walks of life and led very different lives. They were both, as Douglass would later describe it, `self-made men' with Douglass rising out of slavery and Lincoln out of poverty to become leading figures of the nation. Lincoln would become a politician and rise to become the sixteenth president of the United States. Frederick Douglass would become a politician too, but not an office-seeking one. He would be on the outreaches of power doing all he could, in his genius, to fight for the enslaved and for justice for all African-Americans. Stephan and Paul Kendrick, father and son, recreate the epic political battles of the Mid-Nineteenth century United States over slavery and the Constitution.
Both Lincoln and Douglass had to overcome many hurdles in life to get to their destinies. Lincoln was born into extreme poverty. He had a cruel and overbearing father who worked all he could out of him until he was twenty-one. Douglass had been born into slavery. He did not even know who his father was, although he had a strong suspicion that it was the man who, by the law, owned him. Both would over come these obstacles on the road to greatness.
Lincoln managed to educate himself and `read law' in order to join the bar and become a frontier lawyer. He would win election to the state legislature and become a vocal minority leader as a member of the Whig Party. He would serve one mediocre term in the United States House of Representatives. In the 1850s, two failed Senate bids, one against the legendary Stephen Douglas, established Lincoln as one of the leading voices against slavery, the expansion of slavery, and slave power. Although against slavery, he had a strong dislike for the radical Garrisonian Abolitionists, who in his view undermined the Anti-slavery movement by making it unelectable, unappealing, and anarchistic.
Douglass managed to escape to chains of slavery and went to the North, where he dodged slave catchers, educated himself, and was found by William Lloyd Garrison. Garrison himself, recruited Douglass into the movement. As time went on, however, Douglass started to become very critical of the movement that he had joined. The Garrisonian abolitionists were pretty good at getting nothing accomplished; they made a lot of people mad at them but did nothing to really damage slavery. Douglass would leave to start his own movement one that would be more mainstream without being mainstreamed.
"To fully break from Garrison and his philosophies was wrenching, but Douglass had tired of conceding to the South their argument that the United States Constitution was a proslavery document. Further, he now resisted William Lloyd Garrison's often expressed notion that seceding from the Union was a viable option for northern states. Instead, Douglass came to view the Declaration of Independence's proclamation that `all men are created equal' as the proper lens though which to understand the essential meaning of the Constitution with the additions of the Bill of Rights." p.44
When Lincoln was elected in 1860, Douglass was disappointed. Lincoln was not really the type of person he wanted as president. Although the most openly anti-slavery president ever elected, Douglass thought Lincoln's approach was too slow and his willingness to enforce fugitive slave laws too cruel.
However as the war went on Douglass's view on President Lincoln began to change, first by meeting him and deciding upon that meeting that Lincoln was nothing if not honest. When the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, Douglass started recruiting young black men, including his own sons, to fight for the Union cause. Douglass would even collaborate with Lincoln in a plan for Douglass himself to go down to the South personally and try to start up a slave rebellion, but the war ended before that became necessary.
"Douglass had clearly made quite an impression on the president. It was now Lincoln himself prompting a second meeting. In thinking about the ease and evident lack of prejudice that marked his meetings with Lincoln, Douglass maintained that this connection was forged in their both being self-made men. Though it might be audacious to compare a president's early days with his own, Douglass was well aware of the grinding poverty of Lincoln's childhood, and he later pondered that this commonality was a source of their ease with one another. Douglass concluded, `I account partially for his kindness to me because of the similarity with which I had fought my way up, we both starting at the low rung of the ladder.' So when receiving the invitation, Douglass resolved to go `most gladly.'"
After the war was over, Lincoln would, though some backroom strong-arming, get the eventual Thirteenth Amendment though the Congress of the United States. President Lincoln would not live to see it though; John Wilkes Booth took his life on April 14, 1865. Although he and Lincoln had their differences, Douglass would never have it so good with a president again*. Lincoln's immediate successor was more of villain to his cause than an ally. Douglass would spend the rest of his life fighting for justice and civil rights. He would live until 1895, fighting forever to the end.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested to anyone interested in U.S. history, the Civil War, and centuries-long struggle for civil rights. This book captures the essence of two incredible leaders who lived and lead in incredible times.
*Although, he did have a positive opinion of President Grant.
Both Lincoln and Douglass had to overcome many hurdles in life to get to their destinies. Lincoln was born into extreme poverty. He had a cruel and overbearing father who worked all he could out of him until he was twenty-one. Douglass had been born into slavery. He did not even know who his father was, although he had a strong suspicion that it was the man who, by the law, owned him. Both would over come these obstacles on the road to greatness.
Lincoln managed to educate himself and `read law' in order to join the bar and become a frontier lawyer. He would win election to the state legislature and become a vocal minority leader as a member of the Whig Party. He would serve one mediocre term in the United States House of Representatives. In the 1850s, two failed Senate bids, one against the legendary Stephen Douglas, established Lincoln as one of the leading voices against slavery, the expansion of slavery, and slave power. Although against slavery, he had a strong dislike for the radical Garrisonian Abolitionists, who in his view undermined the Anti-slavery movement by making it unelectable, unappealing, and anarchistic.
Douglass managed to escape to chains of slavery and went to the North, where he dodged slave catchers, educated himself, and was found by William Lloyd Garrison. Garrison himself, recruited Douglass into the movement. As time went on, however, Douglass started to become very critical of the movement that he had joined. The Garrisonian abolitionists were pretty good at getting nothing accomplished; they made a lot of people mad at them but did nothing to really damage slavery. Douglass would leave to start his own movement one that would be more mainstream without being mainstreamed.
"To fully break from Garrison and his philosophies was wrenching, but Douglass had tired of conceding to the South their argument that the United States Constitution was a proslavery document. Further, he now resisted William Lloyd Garrison's often expressed notion that seceding from the Union was a viable option for northern states. Instead, Douglass came to view the Declaration of Independence's proclamation that `all men are created equal' as the proper lens though which to understand the essential meaning of the Constitution with the additions of the Bill of Rights." p.44
When Lincoln was elected in 1860, Douglass was disappointed. Lincoln was not really the type of person he wanted as president. Although the most openly anti-slavery president ever elected, Douglass thought Lincoln's approach was too slow and his willingness to enforce fugitive slave laws too cruel.
However as the war went on Douglass's view on President Lincoln began to change, first by meeting him and deciding upon that meeting that Lincoln was nothing if not honest. When the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, Douglass started recruiting young black men, including his own sons, to fight for the Union cause. Douglass would even collaborate with Lincoln in a plan for Douglass himself to go down to the South personally and try to start up a slave rebellion, but the war ended before that became necessary.
"Douglass had clearly made quite an impression on the president. It was now Lincoln himself prompting a second meeting. In thinking about the ease and evident lack of prejudice that marked his meetings with Lincoln, Douglass maintained that this connection was forged in their both being self-made men. Though it might be audacious to compare a president's early days with his own, Douglass was well aware of the grinding poverty of Lincoln's childhood, and he later pondered that this commonality was a source of their ease with one another. Douglass concluded, `I account partially for his kindness to me because of the similarity with which I had fought my way up, we both starting at the low rung of the ladder.' So when receiving the invitation, Douglass resolved to go `most gladly.'"
After the war was over, Lincoln would, though some backroom strong-arming, get the eventual Thirteenth Amendment though the Congress of the United States. President Lincoln would not live to see it though; John Wilkes Booth took his life on April 14, 1865. Although he and Lincoln had their differences, Douglass would never have it so good with a president again*. Lincoln's immediate successor was more of villain to his cause than an ally. Douglass would spend the rest of his life fighting for justice and civil rights. He would live until 1895, fighting forever to the end.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested to anyone interested in U.S. history, the Civil War, and centuries-long struggle for civil rights. This book captures the essence of two incredible leaders who lived and lead in incredible times.
*Although, he did have a positive opinion of President Grant.
February 11, 2014
I enjoyed this book. Showed the development of the Relationship of two great men in American History whom I admire very much. Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.
Authors did a good job relating and bringing the two men together.
Authors did a good job relating and bringing the two men together.
April 19, 2020
This is an excellent book which gives much insight into both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Lincoln is termed the great emancipator and for good reason. His thinking was ahead of his time, but he was also greatly influenced by the prevailing thought of the inferiority of Blacks. I learned a great deal, especially about Lincoln and the small ways he was influenced by Douglass.
February 14, 2019
I really liked this book! I learned alot about Abraham Lincoln and his integrity I also love Fredrick Douglass and his tireless efforts to free his race from prejudice!
January 7, 2025
Gives an excellent, humanized account of these grand historical figures and their thoughts and feelings in the civil war era. (4.5/5)
March 16, 2015
Interesting to trace how Lincoln's views on slavery and the role it played in the United States evolved prior to and during the Civil War. Lincoln was a product of his times and was, by today's standards certainly, a racist. Although he had a personal dislike for the institution of slavery, he did not feel that black people were his moral or intellectual equals, as he stated in his campaign debates with Stephen Douglas. He was in favor of repatriating black slaves to either Liberia or Haiti, but was willing to allow slavery to continue in the United States if it meant keeping the states united. Through his acquaintance with Fredrick Douglass, he came to revise his views of the role of black people in society, and ultimately came to the conclusion that black people should have the rights to participate fully in society, i.e. suffrage, and the ability to serve on juries and as equals in the armed forces. Fredrick Douglass, born into slavery, found his way to freedom and was a lifelong radical organizer against slavery. The renown he attained as an accomplished orator brought him to Lincoln's attention and no doubt played a role in Lincoln's evolving ideas about how best to keep the union intact and bring slavery to an end. Though initially worlds apart, these two extraordinary men forged a friendship based on mutual respect, and ultimately a mutual goal.
I did not realize the role that black soldiers played in the victory of the Union. The inclusion of black soldiers in the armed forces and the right to equal pay and rank was an issue championed by Fredrick Douglass, who directly petitioned Lincoln for these changes. Lincoln gradually came around to accepting the practicality and necessity for allowing black men to enlist in the fight for their own freedom, and finally became agreeable to the principle of equality in the service.
I did not realize the role that black soldiers played in the victory of the Union. The inclusion of black soldiers in the armed forces and the right to equal pay and rank was an issue championed by Fredrick Douglass, who directly petitioned Lincoln for these changes. Lincoln gradually came around to accepting the practicality and necessity for allowing black men to enlist in the fight for their own freedom, and finally became agreeable to the principle of equality in the service.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2009
This book tells some interesting stories about both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. I don't know that it tied the two together often enough, or had a very powerful central thesis, but in regards to Douglass it was pretty good in discussing his life after slavery within the black community. The speech at Tremont Temple incident was incredible, and I wonder why it isn't told in every history book.
The story is OK, but I think one could gain much more by reading one book about Lincoln's evolving view of blacks and another on the life of Frederick Douglass. Given their limited meetings, I don't know that wrapping the two awesome dudes into one book makes much sense. Either way, they are both my boys.
The story is OK, but I think one could gain much more by reading one book about Lincoln's evolving view of blacks and another on the life of Frederick Douglass. Given their limited meetings, I don't know that wrapping the two awesome dudes into one book makes much sense. Either way, they are both my boys.
February 14, 2016
This book was really well done. I wanted to read something balanced about the Civil War and learn something, and it did that without offering 1000 pages to drag through. The book helped me understand how Lincoln's ideas and decisions evolved over the course of the war, and how Douglass influenced them.
August 4, 2012
A very good look at both of these men. The complicated relationship they had and how Douglass truly felt of Lincoln. An ever-changing opinion. It shows Lincoln's true feelings that were also changing about slavery and the emancipation.
September 13, 2014
a very good exploration of the relationship (tense yet necessary) between Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. an easy to read, but very powerful book!
July 11, 2009
Douglass, not so much Lincoln.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews