Abraham Lincoln: The People's Leader in the Struggle for National Existence

This concise yet richly detailed work opens with a reflective essay delivered on the centennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth, offering the author’s personal recollections of the era’s commemorations. It moves beyond a simple biography, weaving together a vivid portrait of Lincoln’s rise, his defining 1860 New York speech, and the constitutional crises that set the stage for the Civil War. Throughout, the narrative balances scholarly insight with the immediacy of a spoken address, making the history feel alive.

The book also reproduces Lincoln’s original Cooper Institute address, accompanied by extensive annotations from two young New York lawyers who recognized its political significance. Their notes, along with previously unpublished letters between Lincoln and the speech‑organizers, give listeners a rare glimpse into the strategic thinking that would later shape the nation’s destiny. Listeners will come away with a deeper appreciation of how a single speech helped define the moral and legal battles that Lincoln would confront as the country’s leader.