In what ways was Lincoln's "Team of Rivals" a wise decision? How might it have hampered him?

Lincoln appointed people to his cabinet that he ran against (his "Team of Rivals"). In what ways do you think this was a wise decision? How might it have hampered him?

I think he was quite lucky that he could actually work with his former rivals. Most of the time I'd think that would create barriers. If it can be done successfully, I think it's a great move; it brings in more support from the electorate, and it allows for more points of view when implementing policies.

It says volumes about Lincoln's integrity and character that even his former rivals wanted to help him in the task of reuniting the nation. Without this team, Lincoln's Presidency would have been very different.

I agree with cathyoc's and kimk's above statements. It made me also think of Obama bringing in Joe Biden, and Hillary Clinton. To make it work, I think that the leader (President in this case) has to have high integrity, be a good listener and negotiator, and be open to new ideas and compromises. He/she also has to have a realistic understanding of the mindsets and personalities of those brought into the group.

I don’t think this section was covered in enough detail in the book. I would highly suggest reading Doris Kearns Goodwin’s spectacular book TEAM OF RIVALS, to get a full picture of the inside machinations and maneuverings that went on within Lincoln’s cabinet.

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Many of Lincoln's cabinet members had had aspirations for the presidency and several others, although ambitious and accepting of his cabinet appointment, held him in disdain. Lincoln knew that these individuals were the power brokers in Washington, DC and that it was important to get them behind him and his Administration.

Doris Kearns Goodwin's book is on my to be read pile so I can't comment on that book. If I were in a position of leadership, and I knew I had personal detractors, I would include them in my ring of policy makers. They would bring to life the opinions of those would not want me in that position. It would also quiet the naysayers who didn't believe in my integrity. I am thinking of the situation of McConnell and Obama. McConnell was filled with so much hatred for Obama that solution would never have worked. I would have brought in the closet rivals of McConnell who feared retribution if they acted alone.

It was a wise decision as it gave all parties in the Republican Party a seat at the table. I wouldn't say it hampered him as much as it might have tempered his decisions as he got advice from those who didn't always think exactly like he did. And he listened, thought about it, and made his decisions based on being an informed person.