Abraham Lincoln: Commander in Chief & Political Leader

Shana Sessler

University at Buffalo Honors Program

After Abraham Lincoln emerged the winner of the election, his foremost goal was to politically unite both his party and the nation. Thus, he selected many of the members of his cabinet from among the most ambitious of his political rivals, including Salmon P. Chase (Secretary of the Treasury), Edward Bates (Attorney General), and William Seward (Secretary of State), all of whom had vied for the Republican nomination and presidency. In addition, he appointed Simon Cameron Secretary of War, Caleb B. Smith Secretary of the Interior, and Montgomery Blair Postmaster General in exchange for their role in his nomination. Lincoln had a strong desire to surround himself with ambitious and talented advisors and was not afraid of being over-shadowed by such men. Lincoln, a skilled manager, kept all the cabinet focused during their time in his administration and maintained overall control.

The cabinet member who may have posed the greatest challenge to Lincoln was William Henry Seward, who was Secretary of State from 1860 until Lincoln's assassination. Seward intended to act as an older, wiser, more politically experienced mentor to Lincoln. Seward tried to use the perceived lack of strong leadership in the administration to consolidate his power. Therefore, among numerous other challenges as new president, Lincoln had to demonstrate to Seward that he was in command.

The method by which Lincoln was able to convert Seward from chief political rivalm, and intended prime minister to trusted advisor and confidante, demonstrates the skillful manner in which Abraham Lincoln managed his advisors, generals, and the public as  Commander in Chief and political leader during the United States Civil War.

 

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