Senate Confirmation Hearings

This book is a multiple biography centered on Abraham Lincoln's mastery of men and how it shaped the most significant presidency in the nation's history. It explores how Lincoln, despite being a one-term congressman and prairie lawyer, rose to become president by incorporating his rivals—William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase, and Edward Bates—into his cabinet. The book details Lincoln's extraordinary ability to understand and empathize with others, which enabled him to create an unusual but effective cabinet. It also delves into the challenges Lincoln faced, including incompetent generals, hostile congressmen, and the internal dynamics of his cabinet, highlighting his political genius and managerial skills[1][3][5].

In 'Picking Presidents', Gautam Mukunda provides a detailed framework for evaluating presidential candidates. The book combines insights from political science, psychology, organizational behavior, and economics to help readers determine whether a candidate will succeed or fail in the White House. Mukunda analyzes both 'filtered' and 'unfiltered' presidents, drawing examples from historical figures such as Harry Truman, James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, and Theodore Roosevelt. The book aims to equip every American with the tools to cast an informed vote and understand the complexities of presidential leadership[1][4][5].