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Episode: How Lincoln would navigate today's politics
Host: Jeff Bennett (PBS News)
Guest: Matthew Pinsker, historian and author of Boss: The Partisan Life of Abraham Lincoln
Date: February 16, 2026

Overview

In this special President’s Day edition, PBS anchor Jeff Bennett hosts historian Matthew Pinsker to explore the question: How would Abraham Lincoln navigate today’s fractured political climate? Drawing from Pinsker's deep scholarship, including his latest book and weekly Substack, the conversation examines Lincoln’s political mastery, the lessons of his leadership during national crisis, and what his example offers for Americans facing modern partisan divides.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Lincoln’s Relevance and Ongoing Legacy

• Despite being “frozen in marble as the Great Emancipator,” Lincoln’s ongoing relevance comes from his complex, pragmatic political approaches (00:41-01:28).
• Pinsker: “He's so relevant. Unfortunately he seems too relevant right now, but he is always relevant and worth studying and drawing inspiration from.” (01:15)

2. Lincoln as Political Operator: Beyond the Myth

• Pinsker reframes Lincoln as a “party boss,” skilled at building and leveraging coalitions:
  • “The first rule of running a party is you have to put the party ahead of yourself.” (02:25)
  • Lincoln thrived in party politics, understood the importance of organization, and was ambitious early on despite humble beginnings.
• His effectiveness was rooted in playing both by and to the rules—he wasn’t just idealistic, but pragmatic and strategic. (03:27-04:09)

3. Partisanship: Lincoln’s Tool for Coalition-Building

• Today’s negative views of partisanship miss its vital utility for coalition-building and achieving common goals.
• Pinsker: “Partisanship can be petty...but it has another side. It's about bringing people together for a common purpose...” (04:20)

4. Slavery as Political & Moral Issue

• Lincoln’s strategy on slavery evolved; he saw it not just as a moral evil but as the political wedge issue threatening the Union (04:39-05:48).
• Strategic moderation allowed Lincoln, unlike the abolitionist radicals, to steer the country towards emancipation:
  • “They needed moderates like Lincoln who said slavery is wrong, but we can work in a strategic way…to turn the tide of public sentiment.” (05:54)

5. Media and Messaging: The Lincoln-Douglas Debates

• The debates were major political media events, elevating Lincoln nationally.
• Lincoln demanded clarity: only those willing to declare slavery wrong could join the Republican Party—a critical strategic choice for party unity. (06:29-08:03)

6. Lincoln the Man: Multiple Dimensions

• Lincoln was folksy yet distant, a storyteller yet a solitary, demanding leader.
• Behind the scenes, “Boss Lincoln” rarely revealed his true thinking—even to confidants—balancing kindness with command. (08:03-09:07)

7. Lessons for Today’s Political Climate

Faith in Democracy

• Lincoln would be “depressed” by declining faith in democratic systems today.
• Democracy, he urged, is not perfection but mediating disagreement:
  • “Democracy is not the Greek word for perfect… it might as well be the Greek word for disagreement.” – Pinsker (09:17-10:16)

Application to Contemporary Events (e.g., January 6)

• Lincoln would view January 6 as insurrection, but also see the participants as Americans in need of reconnection and persuasion:
  • “He would still think of them with malice toward none and try to find a way to reconnect…” (12:17-13:56)
• Lincoln offered conditional amnesty—requiring loyalty and recognition of wrongdoings—a contrast to unconditional pardons today.

8. Modernization, Change, and the Pace of Leadership

• Lincoln navigated communications revolutions in his era (the telegraph), paralleling today’s rapid media environment.
• He favored incremental change, persistence, and patience—traits often undervalued in today’s instant, polarized culture. (17:43-19:09)

9. Leadership Principles: Forgiveness, Thick Skin, and Mission-Driven

• Lincoln’s leadership: combining demanding standards with forgiveness (“short statute of limitations in politics”—John Hay), putting country before self, and resiliently enduring criticism—from both friends and foes.
• "Leadership is a tough business. People don't follow. Even your friends, your allies, your subordinates…" (27:28)

10. Timeless Standard: Why Lincoln Endures

• Lincoln’s writing (“prose poetry”), crisis leadership, and surpassing challenges (especially the Civil War) are why every modern president measures themselves against him.
• He was distinguished not as a mere participant but as a transformative leader during the Union's greatest peril (21:05-22:43).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On coalition politics:
  "He was able to see multi dimensions on all sides...he built coalitions that served larger purposes..." – Pinsker (02:25)
• On democracy and disagreement:
  "Democracy is not the Greek word for perfect, okay? But it might as well be the Greek word for disagreement." – Pinsker (09:17)
• On insurrections and national healing:
  "Even though he clearly would have thought January 6th was an insurrection or attempted insurrection, he would still think of them with malice toward none..." – Pinsker (12:17)
• On the limits and uses of history:
  “Historical analogies…are not ways to predict the future. History is not math. It's not like an equation. But when you do historical analogies the right way, they can inspire.” – Pinsker (22:54)
• On incrementalism and leadership:
  "Sometimes you need persistence more than resistance." – Pinsker (26:40)

Chronological Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:41: Why Lincoln Remains “Unfinished Business”
• 01:28: Beyond the “Great Emancipator”—Lincoln as Politician
• 02:25: Lincoln’s Mastery of Coalition-Building
• 04:39: Partisanship's Positive Role in Democracy
• 05:48: Strategic Path to Emancipation
• 06:29: The Power & Limits of Political Messaging (Lincoln-Douglas Debates)
• 09:17: Lincoln’s View on Faith in Democracy and Disagreement
• 12:17: Lincoln’s Hypothetical Take on January 6th
• 15:23: The Symbolism and Substance of the White House
• 17:43: Incremental Change vs. Rapid Transformation
• 19:19: Lincoln’s Principle of Political Forgiveness
• 21:05: Why Lincoln Sets the Presidential Standard
• 22:54: On the Dangers and Rewards of “What Would Lincoln Do?”
• 24:49: Generational Perspectives: Lincoln vs. Douglass
• 26:40: Leadership, Patience, and Incremental Change

Leadership Lessons from Lincoln (for Modern Times)

• Be ambitious but always build something larger than oneself.
• Use partisanship not for pettiness, but coalition and purpose.
• Embrace gradual, strategic change: “Persistence more than resistance.”
• Maintain faith in flawed democracy and recognize disagreement as essential.
• Lead with forgiveness but anchor it in accountability.
• Leadership requires resilience to criticism and a focus on mission, not ego.
• Inspire through words—and by example.

Conclusion:
Matthew Pinsker’s research reframes Lincoln as a shrewd party boss and resilient unifier whose legacy provides not easy answers, but enduring inspiration for political leadership amid partisanship, upheaval, and change. As our nation navigates its own divisions, Lincoln’s lesson, as Pinsker channels him, is to persist, to build, to forgive—but never to abandon faith in the Union or the democratic project.