On May 18, 1860, William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase, Edward Bates, and Abraham Lincoln wait- ed in their hometowns for the results from the Re- publican National Convention. Lincoln emerged as the victor, Goodwin demonstrates, because he possessed an extraordinary ability to put himself in the place of other men. It was this same capacity that enabled Lincoln as president to bring his dis- gruntled opponents together, create the most un- usual cabinet in history, and marshal their talents to the task of preserving the union and winning the war. --back cover