Getting Right with Lincoln

Did Abraham Lincoln hate his father so much that he would not visit him on his deathbed or buy him a tombstone? Is it true that Ann Rutledge, who died tragically young, was the real love of his life? Was President Lincoln secretly aligned with the Sioux against US agents during the Dakota War of 1862? Was the Great Emancipator a white supremacist?

Noted historian and Lincoln expert Edward Steers Jr. sets the record straight in this engaging and authoritative book, analyzing the facts and clarifying some of the most prominent misconceptions about the sixteenth president's life. He investigates claims that have found a foothold in mainstream lore, ranging from the contention that Lincoln had a troubled and perhaps scandalous early adulthood on the frontier to more serious attacks on his character, such as the accusation that he held racist beliefs. Drawing on his background in health science, Steers also examines allegations that Lincoln suffered from illnesses -- from endocrine disorders to syphilis -- that affected his leadership.

In Getting Right with Lincoln, Steers relies on primary textual evidence to address each legend at the source and maintains caution when reviewing the potentially biased reminiscences of historic figures close to the president. The result is a fascinating forensic exploration of some of the most persistent hoaxes and myths related to America's most revered president.