Abraham Lincoln's Strengths

When considering the greatness of the men who have served as presidents of the United States, there are many that would rank as men who have excelled in leading the country. Among those that are esteemed are those who led the country during times that demanded nothing more than an immense man at the helm. Among those men revered as the greatest of leaders is Abraham Lincoln. During his time in office, he undeniably proved to be one of the greatest presidents, leading the country through some of the hardest times the nation had faced, resulting in controversial changes that altered the face of the nation. The trying times of the infamous Civil War and abolition of slavery challenged this man of humble origin, engaging his many strengths
Among the most prevalent of these was honesty. From youth, Lincoln was “enjoyed a reputation for scrupulous honesty and truthfulness” (Gienapp 8). His honesty was such an intrinsic belief that “men would swear on his simple word” (Gienapp 8). Lincoln’s honesty transcended his roots in Pigeon Creek, spreading wide and far, as his truthfulness and fair dealings forged his reputation, particularly during his presidency (Gienapp 14). Lincoln’s wife, Mary Todd, recognized this strong belief, commenting that “he was almost monomanic on the subject of honesty” (Gienapp 195). Additionally, one of the greatest of Lincoln’s fundamental beliefs was freedom for all men, including slaves. Lincoln believed that slavery was “a monstrous injustice” to human kind (Gienapp 51). He felt that “there could be no moral right in connection with one man’s making a slave of another” (Gienapp 51). Even in diversity, Lincoln stood firm in this belief. He explicitly indicated that “the ‘republican robe was soiled, and trailed in the dust’ by the presence of slavery in the Republic” (Gienapp 51). Although Lincoln had no answer to the issue of racial equality (Gienapp 52), he strove to ensure abolition of slavery, saying, “Whether this feeling accords with justice and sound judgment, is not the sole question…A universal feeling, whether well or ill-founded,
From an early age, Lincoln possessed great sensitivity (Gienapp 7), which transferred to his days as president. He strayed away from the entanglement of arguments and stood on the grounds that one could move past differences for the greater good. Lincoln is quoted to have said concerning this matter, “A man has no time to spend half his life in quarrels. If any man ceases to attack me I never remember the past against him" (Gienapp 177). Lincoln also illustrated great human compassion during the mass fighting campaigns of the Union soldiers, in which on numerous occasions he visited the battlefields. One such particular occasion was after the battle of Antietam, in which he visited General George McClellan (Gienapp 119). Another was his ominous trip to Gettsburg after the loss of so many human lives. There, he “participated in ceremonies dedicating a national cemetery on the battlefield and delivered one of the most famous speeches in American history” (Gienapp 148). In addition, Lincoln expressly illustrated the depths of humanism and compassion in his struggle to abolish slavery. Lincoln “offered a powerful moral indictment of slavery,” proclaiming that slavery defied the Declaration of Independence (Gienapp 51). He proffered human rights to the slaves, receiving African Americans at the White House and allowing them to participate in the Inaugural Parade (Gienapp 199). In