Why Lincoln Matters: Today More Than Ever - Hardcover

Politicians have been casting themselves as inheritors of the banner of Abraham Lincoln since his assassination nearly a century and a half ago, as former New York governor Mario Cuomo chronicles in the first of this slim but eloquent political treatise. From William Jennings Bryant to William Jefferson Clinton, from FDR through W, figures on the left and right have declared themselves heirs to the martyred "secular saint" of American statesmanship. (Ronald Reagan went so far as to misattribute eight conservative maxims from the great man at the 1992 Republican convention; the adages turned out to be the creation of a early-20th-century clergyman who was putting his own spin on the Lincoln legacy.) Cuomo notes that Lincoln is too complex a figure to belong exclusively to either the left or the right, but that doesn't stop him from finding an enduring link from Lincoln’s vision to Cuomo's brand of unabashed liberalism. The notion may be debatable, but Cuomo, one of the great orators of his generation, is as fluent at the keyboard as he is at the lectern, making Why Lincoln Matters a rewarding read for those on both sides of the divide. Fired by 9-11 and the 2004 presidential election, Cuomo surveys a host of contemporary issues---from the battle against terrorism to religion, race, and the role of government---interpreting the words and notions of his political hero like a true believer deciphers the Bible. One can dispute his conclusions, but his rousing passion and sense of mission are at the very least thought provoking and articulately reasoned. --Steven Stolder

Abraham Lincoln became president on the brink of a terrible war, and he led our country through its darkest times. Challenged by slavery, secession, and war, Lincoln was able to articulate forcefully the values and ideals that have sustained our country since its inception. His speeches, writings, and actions melded the Constitution, the Bible, and his own experience into an American scripture that inspires faith in the future

Today, our country faces terrible challenges, a shadowy war, increasing inequality among our people, and a society with knife-sharp divisions--and there is a decided lack of vision in our country's leadership.

So Mario Cuomo, former governor of New York, and a gifted political philosopher, returns to Lincoln's words, his speeches and writings, to offer guidance for today's problems.

He shows how the big issues--equality, the role of government, war and peace, the responsibilities of the fortunate few--resonate in today's political climate as he brings to life the contemporary relevance of Lincoln's message for today's hot-button subjects. Cuomo's analysis of Abraham Lincoln will inspire readers to believe that government can still be a force for greater good in American society. And it offers us a liberal, generous, and responsible path for the future.