Reelecting Lincoln: The Battle For The 1864 Presidency

by John C. Waugh

Here, from the author of the acclaimed book The Class of 1846, is the dramatic story of what may have been the most critical election campaign in American history. Taking place in the midst of the Civil War, the election of 1864 would determine the very future of the nation. Would the country be unified or permanently divided? Would slavery continue? Weaving rich anecdotal material into a fast-paced narrative, John C. Waugh places this pivotal election in its historical context while evoking its human drama. The men and women who figured in this epic campaign -- most notably Lincoln himself -- emerge with all their strengths, weaknesses, and idiosyncrasies. "It's an inherently dramatic story, and one that has been told before. But never quite so well as by John C. Waugh, [who] brings to his task the keen eye for detail and scene-setting that one would expect from a career reporter," said the Wall Street Journal. Drawing on an extensive array of sources, including published and unpublished reminiscences, memoirs, autobiographies, letters, newspapers, and periodicals, Waugh re-creates that fateful year with all the immediacy of a political reporter covering a national presidential election today.

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

480 pages, Paperback

First published January 20, 1998

About the author

A Brief Self-Serving Bio

I'm a journalist turned historical reporter:

1956–1973, staff correspondent and bureau chief on The Christian Science Monitor. Honors included the American Bar Association’s 1972 Silver Gavel Award for the best national reporting, for a series on American prisons.
1973–1976, media specialist on the staff of Republican Vice President Nelson Rockefeller of New York.
1983–1988, press secretary to Democratic U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico.
Since 1989, writing about history full-time — books on the Civil War era.
Covering the past is not unlike covering the present, except all my sources are dead (I prefer it that way). It also means I can return to my favorite century, the 19th, on a daily basis.

Between stints in the newspaper and political worlds, and since, I've contributed to periodicals, including Civil War History, American Heritage, Civil War Times Illustrated, Columbiad, The Washington Post Book World, The New York Times, The New Republic, The Nation, The Los Angeles Times Magazine, The Boston Globe, The Boston Herald American, and Country Magazine.

Over the years I've also been a consultant to various organizations — National Archives and Records Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Atlantic Richfield Company, President’s Council on Environmental Quality, Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), and West Virginia Public Radio.

My first book, The Class of 1846, published in 1994, won the New York Civil War Round Table’s Fletcher Pratt Literary Award for the best non-fiction book of that year.

I have now written 11 books since flunking retirement in 1989. Number 12 will be out in October 2014. I have discovered over the years that if you put one word after another long enough, they add up.

I was born in California, reared in Arizona, and now live in North Texas. I'm a product of the Tucson public schools and the University of Arizona (1951, journalism major, history minor) plus graduate work in history and political science at UCLA and St. Johns College. I'm married to Kathleen Dianne Lively, a social work administrator and a Texan. We have two grown children, Daniel, a lawyer in Providence, Rhode Island, and Eliza, a teacher in Austin, Texas, and four grandchildren.

Reviews

[Fred Klein · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reminds us that, although we have made Lincoln an icon, he was a man, and, in particular, he was a man who was a politician. Golden rays of light did not come down from the heavens and make him our president. People had to fight and work and manipulate to get him where he was . . . twice!

Even though I have read many books about Lincoln, I never realized that the 1864 election was such a hard-fought battle. Many thought he was going to lose. Many (especially the "Radical" Republicans) thought he was a lousy choice (hard to believe!), but that he was the best of two bad choices.

I recommend this book for anyone interested in elections and/or Lincoln. Lincoln the man and politician is infinitely more interesting than Lincoln the white stone statue that this country worships.

If you already know that you are interested in the subject matter of this book, I also recommend "Lincoln for President: An Unlikely Candidate, An Audacious Strategy, and the Victory No One Saw Coming" by Bruce Chadwick (ASIN:1402244835). An eye-opening account of the 1860 election. If you think Honest Abe is so honest, you'll be interested in reading about how his cronies packed the 1860 Republican Convention with their "delegates" (with fake passes) so that Seward's legitimate delegates could not get in!

[Glenn Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating recount of the 1864 Elections. How to campaign while war was going on, when the lead candidate generally did not campaign? President Lincoln's main opponent was General McClellan, who lived up to his reputation of not being able to execute a campaign. Many wanted McClellan to win in order to end the war, others wanted Lincoln in order for other reasons.

[Scott Sedar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a tremendously interesting book because it examines so many different sides to an election, especially one taking place during a Civil War.
Truly, I enjoyed every page.

[Dennis Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

John Waugh does a masterful job of telling his story. He keeps the book interesting from cover to cover and almost makes the reader feel they are there. Of special note is his ability to help the reader keep the players in this story straight. Many people who were prominate in this campaign are somewhat lost in history but Waugh never confuses the reader as he weaves them in and out of his text. I also found it very interesting how he pointed out the similar trials Jefferson Davis faced in Richmond.
The most amazing thing is that elections were held at all during such a crisis. It is a credit to the leaders of both the Union and the Confederacy that they never really thought about not holding elections right on schedule. Thanks to Mr. Waugh for reminding us just how dear our form of government is. Thanks also for an outstanding book.

[Melodee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Believe it or not, I learned some new things about Lincoln and the political workings of his presidency from this book. I liked the excerpts from the diaries of notable people of the time particularly. It is obviously well researched. It would be an excellent read for anyone interested in Lincolniana, the history of the 19th century, or politics.

[David P · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting book about the 1864 re-election bid of Abraham Lincoln. Held during tumultuous times with talk of fraudulent voting, draws a few parallels to another election. If I could have given it 3.5 stars, I would have.

[Brad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very readable account.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good in-depth book about 19th century politics. Nothing has changed in 150 years. It shows the depths that men will go to and do to have their ideas and beliefs shoved to the forefront of one of the most important elections of this country. I highly reccomend it for those who like political books and those who are fans of Abraham Lincoln.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book is chock full of good anecdotes on the 1864 campaign. Waugh says going in that he was going to attempt to write a sort of history-as-journalism. It reminded me, at times, of Charlie Wilson's War, in that sense.

Worthwhile, if you're interested in the subject.

[Tommyb]

History,US presidents,US history,Lincoln

[James]

Great book, well written by my brotherin-law.

[Anthony Bergen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My review in AND Magazine: http://www.andmagazine.com/content/an...

[Dawn Gessner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learned some interesting things about this election and about Lincoln

[Andrew Scholes]

I learned more about how politically minded Lincoln was. It also showed how, in elections, there are many similarities 150 years later.