The Real Lincoln
Thomas J. DiLorenzo

This political biography of our 16th President demonstrates that his legacy is not as positive as many would have us believe. Lincoln shared the common prejudice of his day against blacks. He advocated the Whig political system of a national bank, protectionist tariffs, and federal funding of internal improvements such as canals and railroads. During the war, his administration subverted the liberties of people in the North and ravaged the civilian population of the South. His war against the right of secession dramatically altered our federal republic for the worse.

DiLorenzo could have expressed his points more succintly. Chapters rehash information from other chapters. However, his overall argument is informative and well-presented. From a Constitutional perspective, the Republican Party (founded in 1854) did not start on a good foundation. Calvin Coolidge, an advocate of limited government, marked the high point of the GOP, and it has largely been downhill from there. (Three Rivers Press, 2003)