Reviews

Lincoln and the Fight for Peace by John P. Avlon

crafalsk264's review

challenging informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.0

This book is a partial biography of Abraham Lincoln focuses specifically on the last six weeks of his life before his assassination with some flashbacks or references to certain critical points in his earlier life that forged his belief in peace and how actions will either build up or tear down the efforts of men and nations. Lincoln’s greatest contribution was his guidance to fight until a reunited United States could be accomplished. His second contribution was the plan for reconstruction that would have accomplished that reunification. Lincoln had pondered extensively about how this could be done resulting in a detailed plan for reconstruction after the end of the Civil War, although Lincoln’s plan was not put into action by Andrew Jackson who succeeded him. 

It was, however, adapted to use as a guide to new generations of military and political leaders. The most striking application of these principles to MacArthur’s occupation of post war Japan and the adoption of the Marshall Plan to address needs across European countries. The simple pillars of this plan hinged on three principles: 1) no ceasefire before unconditional surrender; 2) a magnanimous peace including the reconstruction of the government and infrastructure; and 3) the end of slavery for all time. The book was a well researched nonfiction examination of Lincoln as a peace maker and a speculation of how our society might be different if Lincoln had lived. I consider this question and a related one (what if John Kennedy had lived?) often. I wish we had such a leader such as this one today.