Gideon Welles- Lincoln's Secretary of War (1994) By John Niven
 
John Niven sheds some light on Gideon Welles, the 19th-century politician best known for his service as Abraham Lincoln’s Navy secretary. But Welles was far more than that as this book illustrates. A leading Jacksonian editor based out of Connecticut, Welles was always a competent and respected member of Lincoln’s Cabinet who also served as a close adviser to Andrew Johnson as well. Welles also helped launch the GOP. Niven sheds some light on this obscure figure and his role as a Jacksonian Democrat who opposed slavery, often clashing with “doughface” Isaac Toucey (who served in Polk’s and Buchanan’s Cabinets and really needs a biography) over the party’s direction in Connecticut. Besides offering a good account of his leading the Navy during the war, Niven is also able to shed some light on Welles’ personal life and his various writings before and after the war, including his efforts to show Lincoln as a strong figure. The book is helped by good use of primary sources, including Welles’ diaries. This is one of the best biographies of a 19th-century American politician offering new insights in a readable fashion. 
 
Soft Cover
676 pages 
In Good condition