"Although the concept of public relations and "spin" had not yet been defined by the time of the American Civil War, Abraham Lincoln steered the Union through its perils by skillfully playing his own version of the public relations game. In War of Words, historian Harry J. Maihafer adds a valuable new interpretation to the literature of one of America's most revered leaders." "The news media today includes many forms of communication, but in the nineteenth century it meant only newspapers and magazines. Maihafer shows us that while the technology and professional standards of the media have changed since the nineteenth century, the complex interplay between the White House and journalists has not. Even as a young Illinois politician, Lincoln recognized the power of the press. After a speech he could sometimes be found in newspaper offices personally editing his prose for publication so that it would reach as many voters as possible. Later, as the president of a nation at war, Lincoln was always under fire by some hostile portion of the openly partisan nineteenth-century media, but through the careful cultivation of relationships he successfully wooed numerous prominent newspapermen into aiding his agenda. War of Words is a study that makes the past relevant to the readers of today. It is a valuable addition to our understanding of the Civil War, politics, the media, and human nature."--BOOK JACKET.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 281-285) and index.