Argues that the sixteenth president of the United States was inspired by the Founding Fathers of the nation and struggled to carry on their work throughout his career.

Introduction: two old men, one young man -- 1809-1830: youth -- George Washington and liberty -- 1830-1840: manhood -- Thomas Paine, laughter, and reason -- 1840-1852: maturity -- Henry Clay and the Fourth of July -- 1854: the repeal of the Missouri Compromise -- 1855-1858: running for senate -- 1859-1860: running for president -- Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence. The towering genius (I) -- The election of 1860. The towering genius (II) -- 1861-1863: war, emancipation -- Preamble to the Constitution -- 1864-1865: war, death -- God the father -- 1865: victory. The towering genius (III) -- Epilogue: One old man.