Firsts Quote by David Herbert Donald
“Well, it seems to me Lincoln, I suppose, is kind of a model of a particular sort of presidency, a presidency that first of all is elected by a minority of the votes.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Lincoln's Presidency: From the Election of 1860 to the End of the Civil War, David Herbert Donald, 1995
Lincoln’s presidency is presented as a model of a leader elected by a minority, highlighting the challenges of representing a divided electorate.
In simple terms: Lincoln elected by minority, a challenging model.
Key Takeaway
Consider how minority-elected leaders navigate governance.
Themes
leadership
democracy
representation
minority rule
political legitimacy
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
political
historical
educational
When to use this quote
- political science
- history
- public policy
- leadership training
Key Concepts
electoral dynamics
governance challenges
representative democracy
Questions to Reflect On
- What strategies help minority-elected leaders build consensus?
- How does minority support affect policy decisions?
A Different Perspective
Minority election does not always equate to weak authority; other factors matter.
![“Since I worked with Danny Boyle before on Slumdog Millionaire, we have great success and everything. So, when I first got the script and the screenplay of Simon (Beaufoy) and I was reading it, even before the shoot, some kind of sounds came into my mind and I put some stuff [down] and sent it to…” quote by A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/573/a-r-rahman-4481_cutting_since-i-worked-with-danny-boyle-before-o_539.jpg)
