By rebirthing Abraham Lincoln, we can understand his behavior throughout his adult life and the true history of why he waged his war. Rebirthed, we accept that "Honest Abe" had, for decades been lying about the identity of his true father, Abraham Enloe, and about his illegitimate birth in North Carolina.
Furthermore, by rebirthing Lincoln, todays Americans will understand what motivated him, beginning immediately after being sworn in as President of the remaining United States, to 1) ignore the U. S. Supreme Court, to 2) ignore his U. S. military leaders, to 3) ignore the majority of his Cabinet, to 4) refuse to call a Special Session of Congress, to 5) refuse to negotiate with Southern delegates, and to 6) personally scheme to send a fleet of Navy warships and transports to Charleston harbor to incite President Jefferson Davis to fire on Fort Sumter. When Lincoln directed the Navy fleet to head south to Charleston, he had been in office only 31 days.
Apparently, Lincoln had sought to wage war as quickly as possible; get it started before reports surfaced about his lying about his true family history. Yes, news of past lying about his illegitimate birth would have weakened his credibility, his presidency and his war-making power.
Rebirthing Lincoln, a Biography is Howard Ray White's thirteenth published book, all but one Concerning the history of the Southern States during the 1800s. Now 82 years old, White was never a history professor, but, through exhaustive study, he was always seeking the truth, even when labeled "Politically Incorrect" today. Yet, for 25 years he has forged ahead, delivering compelling and comprehensive history to a readership who wants to know why and how our country was drawn into a sectional political conflict that resulted in State Secession and the North's four-year military conquest of the South - a conflict where, sadly, one million Americans died.
White's biography of Abraham Lincoln is his greatest contribution to educating readers who thirst for understanding about why and how our ancestors suffered this great American tragedy. Inside is the key to unlocking that mystery - Lincoln's behavior from birth to his first months as President.
Central to figuring out "Honest Abe's" behavior is recognizing that his biological father was almost certainly not Thomas Lincoln of Kentucky, as he claimed, but almost certainly Abraham Enloe of North Carolina (note half-brother photos), and that he was born in that state four years before the birth date he claimed. Within these pages you will discover Abe's parents and grandparents, his primitive life growing up, his success in becoming a Springfield, Illinois lawyer, his political career as a state legislator (8 years) and a congressman (2 years). Years later, during the uproar over Bleeding Kansas, you will see him rise from a two-man law office to become leader of the Illinois Republican Party and, from that point, soar upward to become President of the remaining United States.
But, and more importantly, White shows you how Abraham Lincoln's behavior was, throughout His remarkably successful adult life, focused on always keeping secret his illegitimate birth in North Carolina, because news about that would certainly destroy his political advancement.
