FromabjectpovertytoundisputedpoliticalbossofPennsylvania,Lincoln’ssecretaryofwar,senator,chairoftheSenateForeignRelationsCommittee,andafounderoftheRepublicanParty,SimonCameron(1799-1889)wasoneofthenineteenthcentury’smostprominentpoliticalfigures.Inhiswake,however,heleftaseriesofquestionablepoliticalandbusinessdealingsand,attheageofeighty,evenasexscandal.FarmorethanabiographyofCameron,AmiableScoundrelisalsoaportraitofanerathatallowed--indeed,encouraged--amansuchasCamerontoseizepoliticalcontrol.Thepoliticalchangesoftheearlynineteenthcenturyenabledhimnotonlytoimprovehisstatusbutalsotoexertrealpoliticalauthority.ThechangescausedbytheCivilWar,inturn,allowedCamerontoconsolidatehispoliticalauthorityintoasuccessful,well-oiledpoliticalmachine.AkeyfigureindesigningandimplementingtheUnion’smilitarystrategyduringtheCivilWar’scrucialfirstyear,CameronplayedanessentialroleinpushingAbrahamLincolntopermittheenlistmentofAfricanAmericansintotheU.S.Army,astancethateventuallyledtohisforcedresignation.Yethislegacyhaslanguished,nearlyforgottensaveforthefactthathisnamehasbecomeshorthandforcorruption,eventhoughnoevidencehaseverbeenpresentedtoprovethatCameronwascorrupt.AmiableScoundrelputsCameron’sactionsintoalargerhistoricalcontextbydemonstratingthatmanypoliticiansofthetime,includingAbrahamLincoln,usedsimilartacticstowinelectionsandadvancetheircareers.ThisstudyisthefascinatingstoryofCameron’slifeandanilluminatingportraitofhistimes.Purchasetheaudioedition.
