Topic: Abraham Lincoln

Chapter & Verse
Doris Kearns Goodwin on her bestselling books and the movie adaptation of 'Lincoln'

Doris Kearns Goodwin talks about her book 'Team of Rivals,' and what it was like to see her work come to life in Steven Spielberg's 'Lincoln.'

Opinion: Christmas shopping: A pink kitchen set and the 'buying local' dilemma

I wasted hours looking for a cheaper version online, when my dad was willing to pay more at the local store. He made me realize that I was all about 'buying local' until I had to shell out more money. I've learned: I can’t always pay more, but I don’t always have to pay less.

The Vote
Gimme shelter! Your Rolling Stones guide to the 'fiscal cliff'

Yes, we know the fiscal cliff is not always easy to understand. But help is here. Mick Jagger and the music of Rolling Stones can explain it all – with satisfaction – in nine easy steps. Seriously.

Global News Blog
Good Reads: Mexico’s rise, Lincoln’s precedence, and tomorrow’s truth

A round-up of this week's long-form good reads include a look at Mexico's competitive growth, the virtues of compromise in multiple administrations, and how facts 'decay.'

Decoder Wire
How bad is the GOP's image problem?

A new survey puts the GOP last in the ratings of 11 political figures and institutions. But the tide of US politics ebbs and flows – and in the 'fiscal cliff' negotiations, many Americans appear to be holding both sides accountable.

Golden Globe Awards: The 2012 nominees

Who are the nominees for the prestigious Golden Globes? Check out our list.

The Monitor's View: Look to Lincoln to solve 'fiscal cliff'

As the Spielberg movie 'Lincoln' and many books about Abraham Lincoln reveal, solving difficult standoffs in Washington takes more than savvy politics and horse-trading. Lincoln had to first turn to deeper ideals that then helped him win allies.

The Daily Reckoning
Is there such a thing as too much energy?

Government moves energy from the future to the past, Bonner writes, from what will be to what used to be, and finally, to what will be no more.

'Lincoln': 6 actors who won Oscars for portraying historical figures

'Lincoln' actor Daniel Day-Lewis is already a frontrunner for this year's Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of the sixteenth president. Here are a few other actors who took home a statuette when they portrayed real people.

Thanksgiving Day by the numbers: 10 mind-stuffing facts

Data from the Census and other sources provide some numerical insights into Thanksgiving, arguably the most cherished national holiday.

Opinion: Thanksgiving Day Proclamation 2012 from President Obama

In giving gratitude for 'the God-given bounty that enriches our lives,' Americans should remember the 'indelible spirit of compassion and mutual responsibility that has distinguished our Nation since its earliest days.' Washington's and Lincoln’s 'expressions of unity still echo today.'

Six car maintenance tips for teens

Many teens know little or nothing about the basics of auto repair, an AutoMD.com survey finds. Since preventative car maintenance is important for safety, here are easy do-it-yourself auto repair and care tips for teens – and their parents: 

Decoder Wire
State petitions to secede from US: Are they just helping liberals?

Some on the right are concerned that the petitions to secede, posted on a White House website by angry voters, are setting conservatives up as easy targets for the mockery of liberals.

Chapter & Verse
Romney's loss: How he compares to other presidential also-rans

Writer Scott Farris, author of 'Almost President,' discusses how the former presidential nominee stacks up against other men who lost their bid for the highest office in the land.

Voter turnout: the 6 states that rank highest, and why

Which state will have the highest voter turnout on Nov. 6?

On average, about half (51.6 percent) of eligible US voters cast ballots, but six states averaged more than 60 percent. The policies and attitudes in these states may hold lessons for those trying to get out the vote around the country.

Opinion: Election day: Most predictions of the next four years will be wrong (+video)

As President Obama or Mitt Romney will discover, the only predictable thing about foreign and domestic events is unpredictability. Woodrow Wilson didn't foresee World War I. Jimmy Carter called Iran an 'island of stability.' Terrorism got only brief mention in the 2000 Bush-Gore debates.

Opinion: It's almost Nov. 6. Do you know what books Obama and Romney have been reading?

John F. Kennedy, Harry S. Truman, Theodore Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson – many of America's presidents were avid readers, and that informed their decisions. It gave them critical perspective. Americans should be curious about the reading habits of President Obama and Mitt Romney.

Richard Mourdock: the theology behind his rape comments

Senate candidate Richard Mourdock was apparently espousing the doctrine of providence in his comments about rape earlier this week. But he bungled it, and some Evangelicals aren't pleased.

Opinion: R.I.P. town-hall presidential debates

In Tuesday’s presidential debate moderated by Candy Crowley, both candidates focused more on delivering their prepared quips and the equality of timekeeping than directly answering voters' questions. The town-hall debate has not lived up to its promise. It is time to try a fresh format.

The Monitor's View: Why Europe needed the Nobel Peace Prize

Sunk low by euro woes, the European Union needed the Nobel Peace Prize to remind it why it should be grateful for its past success. Gratitude helps in affairs of state as much as in personal ties.

The Man Who Saved the Union

H.W. Brand's biography of America's sometimes overlooked 18th president is a good read for history buffs or anyone who enjoys a life story well-told.

"Lincoln's Hundred Days" and "Seward"

Two new Lincoln-related biographies offer further evidence that we will never tire of reading about our sixteenth president.

Quenching volcanoes of partisanship

A Christian Science perspective.

Battle of Antietam anniversary recalls Civil War's deadliest encounter

Battle of Antietam anniversary will be commemorated on Monday near Washington, D.C. The Battle of Antietam anniversary will remember over 23,000 soldiers from both the Union and Confederate armies who were killed, wounded, or reported missing.

The Vote
Video of the GOP convention: Take a peek behind the curtain

The Monitor's Warren Richey was in Tampa, Fla., last week, cameras in hand, to capture the wacky theater that is a political convention. The GOP convention you saw on TV was the scripted version. There's oh so much more.