Lincoln's last months

by Harris, William C

"In the fall of 1864, an exhausted president sought to end the seemingly intractable Civil War. After four years in the White House, Lincoln struggled to save his presidency, almost losing the election because of military stalemate and his commitment to end slavery. Lincoln's re-election not only ensured the success of his agenda but led to his transformation from a cautious, often hesitant president into a distinguished statesman. He moved quickly to defuse destructive partisan divisions and to secure the adoption of the Thirteenth Amendment. And he skillfully advanced peace terms that did not involve the unconditional surrender of Confederate armies. Throughout this period of great trials, he managed to resist political pressure from Democrats and Radical Republicans and from those seeking patronage and profit. By expanding the context of Lincoln's last months beyond the battlefield, Harris shows how the events of 1864-65 tested the president's leadership and how he ultimately emerge