Historian Allen C. Guelzo on Hard Choices and Robert E. Lee

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Dec 18, 2021

Historian Allen C. Guelzo, a renowned expert on the American Civil War and Lincoln from Princeton University, dives into the complexities of figures like Robert E. Lee and Abraham Lincoln. He explores how Lee’s moral dilemmas affected his leadership during the Civil War and the significant implications of Lincoln’s assassination on Reconstruction. Guelzo also discusses the nuanced legacy of these leaders, the tragic burdens of their choices, and what their stories reveal about democracy and leadership in times of crisis.

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INSIGHT

Reconstruction's Failure

Reconstruction failed due to a lack of a clear model and improvisation.
The short 12-year timeframe hindered long-term change.

INSIGHT

Lincoln's Clemency

Lincoln's approach to clemency appears merciful, advocating forgiveness.
However, Lincoln wasn't always consistent, demonstrating a harder hand at times.

ANECDOTE

Lincoln's Pardons

Lincoln pardoned many deserters and soldiers during the war.
He refused to pardon slave trader Nathaniel Gordon, seeing him as robbing Africa.

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On today’s episode of the podcast Ryan talks to Historian Allen C. Guelzo about his new book Robert E. Lee: A Life, the mystery of how Lincoln would have handled reconstruction had he not been assassinated, the importance of cherishing and protecting democratic principles, Lincoln’s complexity of depth and Lee’s complexity of confusion, and more.

Allen C. Guelzo is an American historian who serves as Senior Research Scholar in the Council of the Humanities and Director of the Initiative on Politics and Statesmanship in the James Madison Program at Princeton University. He formerly was a professor of History at Gettysburg College. Guelzo received the 2013 Guggenheim-Lehrman Prize in Military History for Gettysburg: The Last Invasion at an awards ceremony in 2014. He has written many books including Gettysburg: The Last Invasion and Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President.

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