Ronald C. White - The Eloquent President: A Portrait of Lincoln Through His Words

Splendid The Eloquent President is an insightful, highly readable exploration of literary genius.

The Washington Post

A sheer pleasure Its hard to say whats more edifying: reading Abraham Lincolns words or reading Ronald C. White Jr.s illuminating take on Lincolns words. Happily, you dont have to choose. The material (Lincolns and Whites) is rich, and the research, analysis and writing (Whites) top-drawer.

The Sunday Oregonian

Lincolns eloquence was of a rare kind. Ronald C. White captures its qualities admirably in this outstanding book.

The Wall Street Journal

Whites scholarship is exceptional; and his book is one to treasure.

The Sunday Oklahoman

A treasure to read, a spur to thinking, a small volume heavy with fascinating history The wealth of details makes you feel you are walking right with Lincoln and on intimate terms with his internal debates.

The Denver Post

Lincolns rhetorical style and accomplishments deserve sensitive treatment, and that is what they receive in this provocative, soundly researched book.

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

[The Eloquent President] shows how each of [Lincolns] major speeches developedfrom the play of syntax and practical political considerations to the lyrical, otherworldly poetry of Americas 16th president.

Chicago Tribune (Editors Choice)

Unlike any [book] youve ever read on our 16th president White paints an illuminating portrait of Lincolns presidency that is multidimensional, intimate, and inspiring, charting his growth as a leader, a communicator, and a man who believed in his destinyand the destiny of the nation. The Eloquent President shows in beautifully rendered prose and keen historical detail the persuasive power of an all-too-human leader. This is a book that will inspire and transfix you on every page.

G ARY J ANSEN , executive editor, Book-of-the-Month Club

More than perhaps any other president, Lincoln led and persuaded through the words of his speeches and writings. In this important book, Ronald White shows how Lincoln clothed his ideas and proposals in carefully chosen words of surpassing eloquence. All those who are interested in American political history as well as the Civil War will find this book indispensable.

J AMES M. M C P HERSON , Pulitzer Prizewinning author of Battle Cry of Freedom

A wonderful, much-needed book that combines brilliant readings of the texts, deep research on their creation, and considerable insight into the reaction they elicited. These are nothing short of revelatory. I do not believe this project could have been done better by anyone.

T OM S CHWARTZ , Illinois State Historian, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library

The author who gave us fascinating insight into Lincolns Second Inaugural Address now provides an equally engaging study of Abraham Lincolns uniquely American eloquence. Ronald White shows us that Lincolns words were both powerful and persuasive, giving voice and urgency to national union and emancipation.

H AROLD H OLZER , author of Lincoln at Cooper Union and co-chairman of the United States Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission

Lincolns Greatest Speech:
The Second Inaugural

Liberty and Justice for All:
Racial Reform and the Social Gospel

An Unsettled Arena:
Religion and the Bill of Rights
editor, with Albright G. Zimmerman

Partners in Peace and Education
editor, with Eugene J. Fisher

American Christianity:
A Case Approach
with Garth Rosell and Louis B. Weeks

The Social Gospel:
Religion and Reform in Changing America
with C. Howard Hopkins

2006 Random House Trade Paperback Edition

Copyright 2005 by Ronald C. White, Jr.

All rights reserved.

Published in the United States by Random House Trade Paperbacks,
an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group,
a division of Random House, Inc., New York.

R ANDOM H OUSE T RADE P APERBACKS and colophon are trademarks
of Random House, Inc.

Originally published in hardcover in the United States by Random House,
an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group,
a division of Random House, Inc., in 2005.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA

White, Ronald C. (Ronald Cedric).
The eloquent president : a portrait of Lincoln through his words /
Ronald C. White, Jr.
p. cm.
eISBN: 978-0-307-79685-1
1. Lincoln, Abraham, 18091865. 2. PresidentsUnited States
Biography. 3. Lincoln, Abraham, 18091865Oratory. 4. Lincoln, Abraham, 18091865Correspondence. 5. United StatesPolitics and government18611865. 6. EloquenceCase studies. 7. RhetoricPolitical aspectsUnited StatesCase studies. 8. Speeches, addresses, etc., AmericanHistory and criticism. 9. American lettersHistory and criticism. I. Title.
E457.2.W6155 2005
973.7092dc22 [B] 2004050766

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