To be a general of McClellans caliber, how can one not be supremely confident?
I think you have to be, yes. But, at the same time, you need to be open to change if necessary. You can be the most brilliant strategist in the world but, if you don’t have that better-rounded aspect to your approach, then you are not going to succeed. What surprised you the most while writing this book? That someone of McClellan’s brilliance would not see Lincoln’s greatness and capitalize on the fact that he must work with this president, despite what he might feel about him personally. What will surprise readers? The thing about history is that it’s a great big, wonderful story. And this is a great, true story. Why should Obama read this book? He would probably begin to see whether there were any characteristics that McClellan exhibited that some of his generals now are exhibiting. And I think, in that sense, he might be able to adjust and do what’s right by them, as Lincoln tried to do with McClellan. Obama has almost patterned his career on Lincoln’s, and I see no reason why he wo
