David Lowenthal 
Mind and Art of Abraham Lincoln, Philosopher Statesman 
Texts and Interpretations of Twenty Great Speeches

By analyzing many of Lincolns most important speeches, The Mind and Art of Abraham Lincoln, Philosopher Statesman shows him to be a profound and systematic thinker who tries to get at the root of issues, not all of them strictly political. Lowenthal emphasizes Lincolns manner of writing, which enables him to conceal his most radical thoughts, and pays special attention to the reasoning and artfulness with which he treats a wide variety of subjects. The book follows Lincoln from his Perpetuation or Lyceum address in 1838 to his last speech just after Lees surrender, as he confronts the great issues of the day and lays out the fundamentals of American politics. Along the way, Lowenthals careful analysis frees Lincoln of the charge of racial prejudice with which he has been saddled in recent years.