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Historian talks Obama, Lincoln comparisons

Written by Michelle Leverett

Wednesday, 19 November 2008 11:47 PM

Pulitzer prize-winning author and historian, Doris Kearns Goodwin, speaks about her book Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln on Wednesday at Texas Hall. The lecture was part of the Maverick Speakers Series. (The Shorthorn: Jacob Adkisson)

Doris Kearns Goodwin said that two inexperienced politicians from Illinois — President-elect Barack Obama and 16th President Abraham Lincoln have much in common.

Like Obama, the one-term congressman quickly rose to the presidency by perseverance and intelligence. And like Lincoln, Obama will place former political rivals to high-level positions in his administration like New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, Goodwin said at Wednesday night’s lecture in Texas Hall.

Students and faculty heard the acclaimed Pulitzer Prize-winning historian’s lecture on the presidential elections and how they relate to her book, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln.

Goodwin said if there’s one thing Obama takes straight from the book, it’s his desire to surround himself with people who support him.

“I would say even more importantly are the temperamental qualities they share because Obama is a rookie, that’s most important,” she said. “Like Lincoln, he thinks things through and tries not to make the same mistakes.”

Goodwin said these days it’s more difficult to become a great president.

“If someone can take us through a crisis and end in a stronger way, then that might signify greatness,” she said.

Goodwin said Obama’s plan to bring rivals into his cabinet is a positive step.

“Lincoln trusted his own leadership and convinced them to care about the country more then their own beliefs,” she said. “If they are willing to put the common goals ahead of their own ambitions and work together, then it can work.”

Allan Saxe, political science associate professor, said Goodwin’s receiving much attention because her book emphasizes the political adversaries Lincoln accumulated as an unexpected presidential candidate — which parallels Obama’s path to the presidency.

“It’s not Goodwin’s fault the media is comparing Obama to Lincoln,” Saxe said. “In the sense, [Obama] is looking at Hillary Clinton as a potential cabinet member. Lincoln was not that peculiar, because in the 19th century it wasn’t unheard of for presidents to reach out to former opponents.”

He said the media is way off base when they compare the two politicians.

“It’s a far stretch to say Obama’s like Lincoln,” Saxe said. “He hasn’t served or appointed anyone to his cabinet yet, and it’s not like Lincoln and his opponents suddenly became friends after appointing them.”

Danny Woodward, communications assistant to the university president, said the lecture was originally intended to for the Maverick Activities Center.

That facility could only hold 450 people. 1,814 people attended the lecture.

“People from all over were eager to attend,” he said. “All of our lectures have been great because not only do people learn from them, but they bring people to the campus who normally wouldn’t be here.”
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 15 January 2009 03:16 PM )

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