The Radical and the Republican: Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, and the Triumph of Antislavery Politics Book

This book traces the parallel careers of Lincoln and Douglass. Lincoln came from poverty: a self-made, self-educated man. Although he had always hated slavery, he was a politician and a consummate one at that. He proceeded carefully toward his goals, always making sure his constituents were with him. Douglass also came from poverty. Born into slavery, he eventually escaped. He taught himself to read and write and became one of the most eloquent and sought after speakers in America. He began working with Garrison, the fiery abolitionist but Garrison's rejection of the Constitution led to a split in the relationship when Douglass came to believe that the Constitution was not the pro-slavery document that Garrison believed it was. Douglass founded his own newspaper and was became the voice of black people. After Lincoln's election, Douglass often criticized Lincoln for moving too slowly toward emancipation and oftentimes questioned the president's commitment to the cause. Over time, he came to appreciate that in order to accomplish his goal of emancipation, he had to rely upon politicians whose role required careful strategizing and time so that the country could catch up to his thinking. What Douglass came to realize was that once Lincoln made up his mind, he stuck by his decisions and followed through. Lincoln was the first president to invite an African American to the White House and they met on three occasions. From their first meeting, both men respected the other even though their methods were very different. The president's assassination had a profound effect on Douglass. To the end of his life, he was affected by his meetings with Lincoln. Moreover, although he joined the Republican Party, Douglass always retained the reformer instincts of his younger days.
In his usual way, Oakes tells this story with erudition and clarity. As in anything I have read by him, Oakes brings a fresh perspective to his subject. This book is highly readable. For historians to history buffs, this book has a lot to offer.