Bibliograph

The Lincoln miracle, inside the Republican convention that changed history, Edward Achorn

Type

Label

The Lincoln miracle, inside the Republican convention that changed history, Edward Achorn

Language

eng

Bibliography note

Includes bibliographical references (pages 451-501) and index

resource.biographical

contains biographical information

Illustrations

platesillustrations

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

The Lincoln miracle

Nature of contents

bibliography

Oclc number

1344546204

Responsibility statement

Edward Achorn

Sub title

inside the Republican convention that changed history

Summary

"The vivid, behind-the-scenes story of perhaps the most consequential political moment in America's history--Abraham Lincoln's epochal nomination as the Republican Party's candidate for president in 1860. Illinois lawyer Abraham Lincoln had a record of political failure. In 1858, he had lost a celebrated Senate bid against incumbent Stephen Douglas, his second failed Senate run, and had not held public office since one term in Congress a decade earlier. As the Republican National Convention opened in mid-May 1860 in Chicago, New York Senator William Seward was the overwhelming favorite for the presidential nomination, with Salmon Chase and Edward Bates in the running. Few thought Lincoln stood a chance--though Illinois judge David Davis had come to fight for his friend anyway. Such was the political landscape as Edward Achorn's The Lincoln Miracle opens on Saturday, May 12, 1860. Chronicling the tense political drama as it unfolded over the next six days, Achorn explores the genius of Lincoln's quiet strategy, the vicious partisanship tearing apart America over racism and slavery, and booming Chicago as a symbol of the modernization transforming the nation. Closely following the shrewd insiders on hand, from Seward power broker Thurlow Weed to editor Horace Greeley, Achorn brings alive arguably the most important political turning point in our history. From smoky hotel rooms to night marches by the Wide Awakes, the new Republican youth organization, to fiery speeches on the floor of the giant convention center called The Wigwam, Achorn portrays a political climate even more contentious than our own today, out of which the seemingly impossible long shot prevailed. As atmospheric and original as Achorn's previous Every Drop of Blood, The Lincoln Miracle is essential reading for any Lincoln aficionado as it is for anyone who cares about our nation's history"--, Provided by publisher

Table Of Contents

Friday, October 29, 1858. Prologue: Such a sucker as me -- Saturday, May 12, 1860. Chapter one: Unconscious strength -- Chapter two: The irrepressible conflict -- Chapter three: Temple of liberty -- Sunday, May 13, 1860. Chapter four: Star after star -- Chapter five: The man in the white coat -- Chapter six: The taste is in my mouth -- Monday, May 14, 1860. Chapter seven: River of iron -- Chapter eight: Deutsches Haus -- Tuesday, May 15, 1860. Chapter nine: Moving Heaven and Earth -- Wednesday, May 16, 1860. Chapter ten: Things is working -- Thursday, May 17, 1860. Chapter eleven: For want of tally sheets -- Overnight, Thursday, May 17, to Friday, May 18, 1860. Chapter twelve: Lincoln ain't here -- Friday, May 18, 1860. Chapter thirteen: Yonder goes Lincoln -- Chapter fourteen: The dirty-shirt ticket -- Saturday, May 19, 1860. Chapter fifteen: Six feet four -- Aftermath. Chapter sixteen: The people decide -- Epilogue: Unconscious instruments

resource.variantTitle

Inside the Republican convention that changed history

Classification