Author Ted McClelland discusses his "Chorus of the Union"

Author Edward "Ted" McClelland will be with us on December 10, 2024 via zoom to talk about his highly acclaimed new book, 

Chorus of the Union: How Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas Set Aside Their Rivalry to Save the Union. 

For those who witnessed the years long rivalry between Lincoln and Douglas in Illinois throughout the 1850s, it was probably unimaginable that they would ever be able to agree on any issue of political significance. McClelland has described how these two epic rivals came together after Lincoln's election to the presidency in November 1860 to stand up for the Union against the secessionist tide in the south. Even before the election, Douglas realized that his campaign for president as the nominee of one faction of a hopelessly divided Democratic Party was doomed. He campaigned across the south, trying in vain to convince voters to accept the Republican Lincoln as president. He continued to travel extensively to make this strong case right up until his death in June 1861.

Harvard's John Stauffer describes Chorus of the Union as “An absorbing and compelling story of how two long-time rivals put aside their profound political differences in order to preserve the Union.” It is a testament to how a defeated candidate was able to overcome his disapointment and rise to vigorously defend his most cherished value, the safety of his country. 

McClelland, is a writer for Chicago magazine and is the author of several books. Topics he has written about include the early political career of Barack Obama, the epic General Motors sit-down strike of 1937, and Midwestern regional dialects.

The Lincoln Group program is free and will run from 6 to 8 p.m. Let us know of your attendance by clicking on the RSVP button.