Lincoln and the Power of the Press : The War for Public Opinion

"Lincoln believed that 'with public sentiment nothing can fail; without it, nothing can succeed.' Harold Holzer makes a significant contribution to our understanding of Lincoln's leadership by showing us how deftly he managed his relations with the press of his day to move public opinion forward to preserve the Union and abolish slavery." —**Doris Kearns Goodwin** From his earliest days, Lincoln devoured newspapers. As he started out in politics he wrote editorials and letters to argue his case. He spoke to the public directly through the press. He even bought a German-language newspaper to appeal to that growing electorate in his state. Lincoln alternately pampered, battled, and manipulated the three most powerful publishers of the day: Horace Greeley of the __New York__ __Tribune__, James Gordon Bennett of the __New York__ __Herald__, and Henry Raymond of the __New York__ __Times__. When war broke out and the nation was... "Lincoln believed that 'with public sentiment nothing can fail; without it, nothing can succeed.' Harold Holzer makes a significant contribution to our understanding of Lincoln's leadership by showing us how deftly he managed his relations with the press of his day to move public opinion forward to preserve the Union and abolish slavery." —Doris Kearns Goodwin From his earliest days, Lincoln devoured newspapers. As he started out in politics he wrote editorials and letters to argue his case. He spoke to the public directly through the press. He even bought a German-language newspaper to appeal to that growing electorate in his state. Lincoln alternately pampered, battled, and manipulated the three most powerful publishers of the day: Horace Greeley of the New York Tribune , James Gordon Bennett of the New York Herald , and Henry Raymond of the New York Times . When war broke out and the nation was tearing itself apart, Lincoln authorized the most widespread censorship in the nation's history, closing down papers that were "disloyal" and even jailing or exiling editors who opposed enlistment or sympathized with secession. The telegraph, the new invention that made instant reporting possible, was moved to the office of Secretary of War Stanton to deny it to unfriendly newsmen. Holzer shows us an activist Lincoln through journalists who covered him from his start through to the night of his assassination—when one reporter ran to the box where Lincoln was shot and emerged to write the story covered with blood. In a wholly original way, Holzer shows us politicized newspaper editors battling for power, and a masterly president using the press to speak directly to the people and shape the nation. From His Earliest Days, Lincoln Spoke To The Public Directly Through The Press. When War Broke Out And The Nation Was Tearing Itself Apart, Lincoln Authorized The Most Widespread Censorship In The Nation's History, Closing Down Papers That Were Disloyal And Even Jailing Or Exiling Editors Who Opposed Enlistment Or Sympathized With Secession. The Telegraph, The New Invention That Made Instant Reporting Possible, Was Moved To The Office Of Secretary Of War Stanton To Deny It To Unfriendly Newsmen. Holzer Shows Us Politicized Newspaper Editors Battling For Power, And A Masterly President Using The Press To Speak Directly To The People And Shape The Nation. The Types Are In Our Glory -- Not Like Any Other Thunder -- That Attractive Rainbow -- A Position We Cannot Maintain -- A Mean Between Two Extremes -- The Prairies Are On Fire -- The Perilous Position Of The Union -- I Cannot Go Into The Newspapers -- Lincoln Will Not Talk With Anyone -- Wanted: A Leader -- No Such Thing As Freedom Of The Press -- Slavery Must Go To The Wall -- Sitting On A Volcano -- No Time To Read Any Papers -- Long Abraham A Little Longer -- Epilogue: We Shall Not See Again The Like. Harold Holzer. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 665-697) And Index.