That’s why they call it a movie.
Saw the movie yesterday. Was excellent, one of Spielberg’s finest. As a Civil War buff, it gave a fair accounting of most of the Union players in the war, the Northern Democrats, The Republicans including Thaddeus Stevens, brilliantly portrayed by Tommy Lee Jones and Lincoln himself. Lincoln is portrayed as a savvy morally flexible politician who was chided by his cabinet for his speechifying and bombasity. Now aside from the deification of American Blacks as starry eyed angels the movie avoided clichés. I enjoyed it, especially Daniel Day Lewis’ tenderness with his child and his complicated relationship with Mary Todd and his oldest Son. Also Lincoln correctly is conflicted about his using the Consitution as toilet paper for the sake of the war effort. Spielberg does not gloss over that fact. Go see the movie, it is pretty compelling.