How we elected Lincoln : personal recollections of Lincoln and men of his time

A seasoned observer recounts how the nation’s most famous leader rose from a divided, profit‑driven New York to the highest office. Drawing on personal encounters and vivid anecdotes, the narrator paints Lincoln as a man of steady purpose amid a city whose merchants profited from slavery yet wrestled with growing anti‑slavery sentiment. The book captures the bustling atmosphere of mid‑nineteenth‑century politics, from raucous public debates to quiet courtroom discussions, offering listeners a textured sense of the era’s contradictions.

Through the author’s eyes we travel the early campaign trail, seeing how Lincoln’s modest brilliance won over skeptical crowds and secured his first nomination. The narrative balances lively storytelling with thoughtful reflection on the moral and economic forces that shaped the 1860 election, setting the stage for the turbulent years that would follow. Listeners will feel the tension of a nation on the brink, while gaining a personal glimpse of the man who would steer it through its greatest crisis.