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Buy the Book
All in the Family
Jason Emerson’s new biography of Robert Todd Lincoln captures a man of impressive achievement in his own right.
(Page 2 of 2)
In 1881, he was with President James A. Garfield, whom he served as Secretary of War, when Garfield was shot by Charles J. Guiteau; and in 1901, he was at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, when Leon F. Czolgosz shot President William McKinley. Apparently this led Lincoln to a number of refusals to attend events where a sitting president might be present.
At times Mr. Emerson, who shows that in later life Robert Lincoln adhered to “a Victorian values system,” assumes a distinctly Victorian style himself. As a young man, he tells us, Robert Lincoln wasn’t above a certain amount of hell-raising: “As dutiful and affectionate [a son] as Robert was, it is not incorrect to reveal his great desire and ability for smoking cigars, drinking, and carousing, which only increased during his college years.”
During those years at Harvard, he was also eager to enlist, like so many of his fellow students, but was prevented from doing so by his mother, who was growing increasingly unstable. Finally, with the help of his father, he was able to join the personal staff of General Grant as a captain in time for the last few battles of the war, and was at Appomattox to witness General Lee’s surrender.
With the end of the war and the assassination, Lincoln brought his mother and younger brother to live in Chicago, where he finished his law degree and eventually helped to establish the prestigious firm where Andrew Ferguson’s father went to work a half-century later. It was in Chicago where he made his mark as a man of accomplishment in his own right, and where he became president of the Pullman Palace Car Company in 1897.
During those years he also served in prestigious posts in Republican administrations, among them Secretary of War under Presidents Garfield and Chester A. Arthur. As his reputation grew—and of course because of the family name—Lincoln became increasingly talked of as a presidential or vice presidential possibility. But he’d have none of it. In 1884, he explicitly forbade his name to be placed in nomination as vice president at the Republican convention.
Four years later, he again had strong support at the Republican convention and, despite not attending, took a significant number of votes for the top job. “It seemed as certain then as it does now,” writes Emerson, “that had Robert Lincoln actively sought the Republican presidential nomination in 1888, he would have won it.” In the end, the nomination went to former Senator Benjamin Harrison, who, upon defeating Grover Cleveland and taking office, nominated Lincoln as America’s Minister to Great Britain.
In all, a distinguished career. As Emerson, very much his subject’s champion, puts it: “Robert T. Lincoln was an accomplished man, one of the exemplars of his generation, who, beyond being the son of Abraham Lincoln, should and must be recognized for his independent achievement. On top of all that, Robert’s life, from 1843 to 1926, spanned the most innovative, impressive, and dynamic era in American history.” With much of it, one might add, played out in Chicago, the most dynamic city of the era.
“Robert’s life is a fantastic journey through a rich period of American history,” writes Justin Emerson. And it is to his great credit as a biographer and historian that he so successfully brings Robert T. Lincoln out of history’s shadows and the times in which he lived back to vivid life.
About the Author
John R. Coyne, Jr. a former White House speech-writer, is co-author with Linda Bridges of Strictly Right: William F. Buckley Jr. and the American Conservative Movement (Wiley).
Letter to the Editor View all comments (23) | Leave a comment
More Articles by John R. Coyne, Jr.
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Jack in Wi.| 5.24.12 @ 6:25AM
As Lincoln sent millions to fight and die his own son was hiding at Harvard. When he finally enlisted at the end of the war he was sent to General Grant's staff where he was deliberatly kept from any action where he could be hurt. In other words it is similar to todays chickenhawks. They are gung ho for war and bloodshed as long as it is some else's blood, but their own, and their relatives. I believe the same could be said of FDR's sons, who lingered on, in safe behind the lines jobs. The old warmonger, Teddy Roosevelt, on the other hand put his own ass and his sons on the line and went to war with a gusto. All his sons fought bravely in 2 wars. That is, except his youngist son Quentin, who was killed at the very end of WW1. Then the old man had to face the fact of how horrible war is. He died soon after Quentin, a broken man.
Mike Hawk| 5.24.12 @ 6:53AM
Your history as usual is a bit distorted.
Vern Crisler| 5.24.12 @ 10:28AM
It wasn't just his mother, but Abraham also didn't want his son in combat. They had lost Willie in 1962, and Lincoln thought the loss of Robert would destroy his mother's sanity.
Vern Crisler| 5.24.12 @ 11:50AM
Gees, 1862.
Vern Crisler| 5.24.12 @ 12:06PM
From Wikipedia: "Theodore Roosevelt, incensed at America’s continuing neutrality in the face of Germany's actions — including the sinking of the British passenger ship RMS Lusitania in May 1915, in which 128 Americans drowned — campaigned unsuccessfully on behalf of the 1916 Republican Presidential nominee, Charles Evan Hughes, during which he severely criticized Woodrow Wilson. Wilson was subsequently reelected on a neutrality platform. While he was initially neutral, Quentin came to agree with his father, writing to Flora in early 1917 from Harvard University, where he was studying, 'We are a pretty sordid lot, aren’t we, to want to sit looking on while England and France fight our battles and pan gold into our pockets.'"
Roosevelt probably regretted encouraging his son to go into direct combat, but it's doubtful whether he had any regrets about entering WW1, or of his son's efforts in WW1.
"To feel that one has inspired a boy to conduct that has resulted in his death, has a pretty serious side for a father," Theodore Roosevelt wrote of Quentin. However, he did not publicly question the usefulness of the losses suffered by his and so many other families. How could he? He had, after all, been the high priest of American interventionism since early 1915. The war in which his youngest son died and his other sons suffered was one for which he'd lobbied with a vengeance. "Honor, highest honor," the sickly and dispirited ex-President editorialized after Quentin's last flight, "to those who fearlessly face death for a good cause; no life is so honorable or so fruitful as such a death. Unless men are willing to fight and die for great ideals, including love of country, ideals will vanish, and the world will become one huge sty of materialism."
http://www.nytimes.com/books/f.....pride.html
Alan Brooks| 5.24.12 @ 12:30PM
"Jason Emerson's new biography of Robert Todd Lincoln captures a man of impressive achievement in his own right."
Well of course, or Emerson and Coyne wouldn't write about him!
Dave Williams| 5.24.12 @ 3:17PM
...and somewhere, lurking in the background, as always, were those diabolically crafty Joooz...Jack, you are WAY beyond tiresome with your mindless rants. Get a life.
Alan Brooks| 5.24.12 @ 4:56PM
Joe Sobran and Pat Buchanan have books still in print making Jack appear as Meir Kahane in comparison (okay, a bit of an exaggeration) but you think Jack is some sort of Stormtrooper?
Jack in Wi.| 5.24.12 @ 6:58PM
Joe Soban and Pat Buchanan were the best writers and thinkers to come out of the right in the last 60 years. Of course they both disliked Lincoln because of all the bad he brought to the Republic, like jailing thousands of his opponents without charge or trail, the first income tax, the first draft, the collapse of sovereign states rights, the destruction and impoverishment of a 3rd of the country, and tyranical wartime government. Sic Semper Tyrannis.
Vern Crisler | 5.24.12 @ 7:35PM
Neoconfederates....who needs them?
Alan Brooks| 5.24.12 @ 9:41PM
After reading many of Jack's comments, I see he doesn't dislike Israel, he dislikes our foreign policy in the region. Jack isn't some guy at http://www.stormfront.org
who wants to kill kill kill.
Jack doesn't love Israel, but a minority of persons in the world love Israel.
All American American| 5.24.12 @ 7:55AM
Ahhhhhh, more Lincoln worship from "conservatives" who would probably tell you we need to get back to constitutional government and the 10A yada yada blah blah blah.
Dick Nome| 5.24.12 @ 8:20AM
Ahhhh, let's go back to the Articles of COnfederation.You're a Paulbot, right??
All American American| 5.24.12 @ 1:53PM
What is a "Paulbot?" Whatever it is, I am not one, DICK. I am an OMG ABO guy. I'd vote for my daughter's poopie diaper if it were running against Obama. As it stands now I'll vote for Romney, as much as it sickens me that he is wimping out on the Rev Wright angle. Say what you want about Obama, but at least he's got some nads, which is something establishment RINO POS sackless faux patriots like you could learn to grow, DICK.
Let me guess tho, you're a "conservative" who believes in a constitutionally limited federal government and the real power in this country lies in the States and the People, but is too stupid to understand the contradiction of thinking you believe that while at the same time you worship good ol' Abe the Constitution Destroyer/Federal Leviathan Creator/Corporate Welfare King Extraordinaire as America's bestest president ever in fornever, right?
Hey DICK do you hate when the left uses Alinsky tactics to distract from the real conversation? Kinda like labeling people "Paulbots" or whatever third grade nonsense you RINO establishment wannabe chickenhawk faux patriots use to squash dissent, huh?
Paul may not be my cup of tea when it comes to foreign policy (didn't vote for him in my state's primary) but I would never belittle someone on my own team. A house divided can not stand, and repubs divided will not defeat Obama.
But keep calling folks you disagree with names like a good little leftist, DICK, instead of debating the issues. A libtard leftist is what you REALLY are at heart. DICK.
Vern Crisler| 5.24.12 @ 2:59PM
This is just Paulista, DeLorenzonked crap.
Michael| 5.24.12 @ 12:38PM
"Took a significant number of vote for the top job in 1888"? If I remember right it was only 3 or 4 votes.
Ron| 5.24.12 @ 12:45PM
Jack, you and your "chickenhawk, proud 4-F"..(or is that Clint because you too yahoos sound so much alike) need to really take a rest.
Maybe during this coming Memorial Day, instead of planning one of your inane rants or protests, or whatever, you should read and do some reflection. For example, any biography of Robert E. Lee might help you see how real soldiers (besides the one's you constantly deride) view war, and indeed might actually help you understand a soldier's mentality, which apparently you so abhor you attack without having experienced what one goes through in martial conflict. One of the greatest quotes about war comes from R.E. Lee "It is well that war is so terrible lest we should grow too fond of it." And before you go blah, blah, blah about slaves, Robert E. Lee did not own any slaves.
Read and learn a little instead of just quoting your G-D, Ron Paul.
To stay on topic, Robert Lincoln was eager to enlist, but his parents held him back. believe it or not, back in those days, parents actually had parental control over their sons, and given the death statistics in the Lincoln family for male children, the Lincoln's were concerned for their eldest living child.
Jack in Wi.| 5.24.12 @ 2:15PM
Whether Robert Todd Lincoln wanted to enlist or not is immaterial. His father wanted him safe, unlike all those other sons he sent to be slaughtered in a senseless war. I read a book on the Lincoln family, which is now extinct. The decendents of Robert Todd Lincoln were a really worthless bunch.
SeymourGlass| 5.24.12 @ 7:29PM
Well, that settles it. You READ A BOOK!
SeymourGlass| 5.24.12 @ 7:42PM
Ron: you are right to celebrate Lee. But he didn't need to own slaves. His wife owned them.
POST American| 5.25.12 @ 2:34AM
---For those just joining us---
RE: Abe Lincoln
ESSENTIAL, though usually overlooked,
minimized, disinfo-ed and distorted
background ----Lincoln's diss of ROT-child
INTER-national USURY finance.
----'Money Masters' documentary online
(---now with tens of MILLIONS of views)
really is the place to start for newcomers.
"This is an old, old plan for siezing
the resources of the world, eradicating
all that's genuinely human ----and bringing
on EUGENICS ---MASS population
extermination and the 'Ordo ob Chaos'
masonic ---FINAL SOLUTION'."
The private, unelected, ILLEGAL, woirld
USURY and capstone EUGENICS
'U.N.' is there to bring this on.
The 'ID ----ALL'
----------------'CALM---U.N.---WEALTH'
--------------------------------made REAL!
------------------------------UN ----WEALTH.
The 'YOU ----N (d)' you might say.
They giggle about this ALLLLL the time.
---------------HUAC/ Nuremberg 2012----------------
sweeterjan| 5.25.12 @ 4:24AM
When the Chicago chief of police was appointed chief of the U.S. Secret Service in 1874, “he brought Tyrrell with him and made the Irishman head of the Chicago regional office. There, Tyrrell again http://www.ceinturesfr.com/cei.....-c-30.html distinguished himself as a top operative by shutting down and arresting numerous counterfeiters and gangs, operations large and small.”