During his transition, Obama spoke about the style of leadership he wanted to emulate, one drawn from his reading of the history of Abraham Lincoln’s presidency.

What he admired about Lincoln, he said at that time, was “just a deep-rooted honesty and empathy to the man that allowed him to always be able to see the other person’s point of view and always sought to find the truth that is in the gap between you and me.” He said that, unlike some presidents who bent people to their will, Lincoln found a way to lead without tricks or bullying. “I just find that to be a very compelling style of leadership,” he added. “It’s not one that I’ve mastered, but I think that’s when leadership is at its best.”

As it turned out, that style of leadership did not fit the times — or Obama was unable to make it work as he hoped.

Dan Balz, http://www.washingtonpost.com