Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln's ability to manipulate people is evident from an early age. As a young man on the frontier, he learns to influence others. At 22 years old, he leaves his family's remote cabin and moves to New Salem, Illinois. Here, he encounters a tough crowd known as the Clarys Grove boys. These local troublemakers see an opportunity to humiliate Lincoln, so they challenge him to a wrestling match. Some witnesses claim that the leader of the gang fights dirty, but Lincoln refuses to give up. His determination to stand his ground has a profound impact on the Clarys Grove boys. Surprisingly, instead of aggravating their opinion of him, Lincoln gains their admiration.

This is the first indication of his persuasive power. Although he loses the match, he learns an important lesson – turning rivals into allies has its rewards. The Clarys Grove boys help him win elections and promote his candidacy in other villages, leading to his first election to the legislature in 1837 at the age of 28. Upon arriving in Springfield, Illinois, Lincoln continues to captivate voters and juries alike. However, he doesn't limit himself to high-minded rhetoric. He excels at using sarcasm to dismantle his political opponents. Unfortunately, this sharp wit eventually gets him into trouble. He publicly ridicules a politician named James Shields, referring to him as a fool and a liar. In response, Shields challenges Lincoln to a duel. Determined not to be seen as a coward, Lincoln manipulates the situation by selecting swords instead of pistols as their weapons. Before the duel begins, Lincoln demonstrates his long reach by slicing off a branch from a willow tree above him. He also insists on placing a board between them, giving him a natural advantage due to his long limbs.

Ultimately, the duel is called off, and Lincoln's ability to influence others becomes even more apparent. Ironically, one of the few minds Lincoln struggles to control is his own. Mastering his emotions proves to be a challenging task, as he battles inwardly with depression. The loss of his mother, the death of his infant brother due to milk poisoning, his sister's death in childbirth, and the rumored death of his sweetheart, Ann Rutledge, all contribute to his predisposition to depression. Later in his political career, setbacks and other losses remind him of these early tragedies, amplifying his pain. Lincoln acknowledges that if his feelings were spread among all humanity, there would be no cheerful faces on Earth. In 1841, when his best friend leaves Springfield and his engagement to Mary Todd falters, Lincoln sinks into a deep depression. Concerned friends even remove sharp objects from his reach, fearing he may contemplate suicide. However, Lincoln reassures them that he couldn't take his own life because he hasn't done anything worthy of being remembered. To combat his depression, Lincoln finds solace in work. By focusing his mind on tasks outside of himself, he can momentarily escape from his inner turmoil.

In 1858, Lincoln enters the Illinois Senate race, fully aware that he is considered a longshot. Unafraid of a challenge, he challenges the incumbent Stephen Douglas to a series of debates. This bold move sets a political trap for Douglas. By sharing a platform with a much better-known political figure, Lincoln elevates himself to equal status. Through these debates, Lincoln showcases his courtroom skills and gains an edge over Douglas. However, his performance is not flawless. During one debate, when Douglas attacks his voting record, Lincoln becomes enraged and grabs a fellow lawmaker by the neck, demanding that he refute the charges. Lincoln's friends also notice other peculiar behaviors, such as incoherent rambling and insomnia.