The words of Abraham Lincoln have been immortalized in speeches and enshrined in policies and practices, and none of those words, spoken or written, has gone unnoticed or wanted for a response. It is this broader context—the wider conversation about Lincoln’s words—that this book discusses. The final project of James A. Rawley, a preeminent historian of the Civil War era,
A Lincoln Dialogue
cross-examines Lincoln’s major statements, papers, and initiatives in light of the comments and criticism of his supporters and detractors.
Drawn from letters and newspapers, pamphlets and reports, these statements and responses constitute a unique documentary examination of Abraham Lincoln’s presidency. Rawley’s careful selection and his judicious interweaving of historical analysis and background invite us into the dialogue and allow us to hear the voices of American history in the making.