Thoughtful Reviews Matter

Thanks to everyone who has posted a review on Amazon, Barnes&Noble, and Goodreads for the book “Abraham Lincoln and Mexico.” Thoughtful customer reviews matter because they boost credibility for the book, which Amazon ranks very high for relevancy among more than 3,200 titles about Abraham Lincoln biography and history. Here are excerpts from a few of the 60+ reviews thus far from readers including Lincoln buffs, historians, educators, authors, and students – all with hyperlinks to the actual reviews online. If you haven’t posted a review yet, we hope you’ll do that in the next few weeks.

“As a historian, I appreciate his succinct explanation of the U.S. Invasion of Mexico, Polk’s egregious and premeditated land grab, and the American disgrace of Manifest Destiny, the attitudes and values of white supremacy at the root of the political, intellectual, and moral vacuum gripping the contemporary American character. Hogan’s kind of historical mirror needs to be placed before American faces more often.” – Robert Richter, Goodreads

“Dr. Michael Hogan is a renowned historian who has thoroughly documented this book. His intellectual honesty rivals President Lincoln’s. I was amazed at the remote details that Dr. Hogan wove into the story, and flabbergasted that neither victor nor vanquished gave proper credit to the “Buffalo Soldiers” for their heroic service to Mexico in the expulsion of the French and their mercenaries. Abraham Lincoln is a hero in Mexico for sure. Thank you, Dr. Hogan, for your masterful work.” – Miles Beacom, Amazon

“The world should welcome this very late in coming correction of US history’s most egregious omission. The truth about the land grab known as the Mexican-American War was simply too outrageous to acknowledge. Hogan’s book supports his shocking revelations through careful research quoting directly from original documents, many of which were previously unpublished. Let us hope the true story finds its way to US classrooms.” –Margaret Van Every, Amazon

“Where to begin – I’ve read many references on the Mex-Am War (1846-1848), but this goes beyond it. Hogan speaks to us from a neutral point of view (as well as any man can). This was not a war of defense, but a war of expansion, a war of oppression, a war of manifest destiny. How one of our greatest Presidents before he was a President viewed it at the time & after is the heart of the book. But there are things said here that transcend history and point to our current political situations. Please read this – you’ll find it is relevant to the world today, and it’s a fun read.” – Jon Heron, Amazon

“The Lincoln presidency continues to intrigue and Dr. Hogan has found a little-explored yet fascinating angle with real relevance for today. In a well-crafted and meticulously researched narrative, he sheds new light on the relationship between Washington and the various unstable authorities in Mexico during the two decades following 1846. Like David McCullough’s The Path Between the Seas, this book is essential reading for historians of the modern Americas.” – Carmen Amato, Goodreads

“Having lived in Mexico for the past twelve years, and having read a half-dozen or so books, I considered myself to be well enough informed regarding the history of USA/Mexico relations. However, having just finished reading what Professor Michael Hogan has gifted us with, I find myself somewhat humbled, and thoroughly enlightened. The book’s publication is very timely. Many of us, for far too long, have been misled by the absence of these facts. If there is any justice, and I believe there is, one would hope that how the USA citizenry relate to Mexico and its citizens, will be dramatically altered once these new facts are disseminated and fully understood.” –Niail John Kavanagh, Amazon

“This is a fascinating and fresh look at the early relationship between the USA and Mexico. It completely upended what I had been taught about the US invasion of Mexico, and, its well-documented and new source material illustrates just how brave and principled a leader was the Republican statesman and President, Abraham Lincoln. If you are a seeker of truth, insight, and historical accuracy – or just a fan of Abraham Lincoln – this is a must read. I wish it had been available to me in High School, when I formed so many false impressions of Mexico that later served to devalue and underestimate the loyal and complex giant that is our neighboring entrée to the rest of Latin America.“ –Bajalover, Amazon

“Quintessential read! As a Mexican college student in the US, this book has given me a fresh new perspective to analyze Mexican American relationships, and as a history buff/reader, it has delighted me.” –Luciana Mendez, Goodreads

“Digging deep into the documented record of Abraham Lincoln times, Dr. Hogan builds a solid case to boldly state the truth of how United States acted illegally to take a massive swath of Mexican territory for no other reason than President Polk wanted it and United States could take it. I sincerely hope this valuable book gains wide notice. –D. Grant Fitter, Amazon

“This book really opened my eyes. The Texas history I was taught when I went to college in Texas was in retrospect terribly biased and abridged from actual events. The author has a remarkably unbiased, even-handed view of history. His narrative is carefully researched with an eye to ferret out the truth, not what we want to hear. He bolsters his truth-telling with original documents in an extensive appendix, with translations side-by-side so you can see the full context of the words often that are often parroted out of context by others. If you have any interest in Lincoln, Texas or Mexican history, I urge you to read this book.” –Kerry Watson, Amazon

“Through the extensive use of primary documents, Hogan reveals the insight and intelligence with which Lincoln and his closest associates approached Mexico. He brings to light little known roles played by actors such as Matias Romero, Charge d’Affaires of Juárez to Washington DC, Philip Sheridan, Lew Wallace, and Ulysses Grant of Civil War fame. He also highlights the engagement of the unknown buffalo soldier who fought with and for the republican army of Mexico against the imperial armies of France, Austria and Belgium as they sought to impose their will on Mexico. It is a tale well told.” –Phil Stover, Amazon

“Professor Michael Hogan adds to the Great Emancipator’s legacy with his “Abraham Lincoln and Mexico: A History of Courage, Intrigue and Unlikely Friendships.” Dr. Hogan does an excellent job of clearly and comprehensibly explaining the complex situation surrounding the Mexican/American War and Lincoln’ views and actions regarding it. I heartily recommend this book to everyone interested in Lincoln and/or Mexico, and indeed, to world history buffs everywhere.” –Eugene Brady, Amazon

“What a fascinating book! Very illuminating and refreshing to see history presented so bilaterally. The author’s documentation of Lincoln’s calling out President Polk’s devious and illegal entry into the war with Mexico hurt Lincoln politically, but his integrity overrode political expediency. The comparisons between that war and later wars, between those politicians and later ones, are striking.” –Greg Niemann, Amazon

“As a Hispanic student from Mexico I remember taking Advanced Placement U.S. History during my junior year of high-school. However, the textbook that I read never mentioned some sort of relationship between Lincoln and Mexico. That is why this new insight provided by Dr. Michael Hogan was so shocking and delightfully surprising for me. I would’ve wished to have read this book as a supplement while I was taking the course back in high-school. There are supporting real-life documents for every claim made and if you get the e-book version as I did, it’s very easy to navigate around the documents. Overall, a must read for any student that is currently studying U.S. history and is a fan of Abraham Lincoln especially if you live in Mexico and want to know more about how this courageous president played a crucial role in Mexican politics.” –Alejandro, Goodreads

“Abraham Lincoln and Mexico is the first history book I have read in forty-five years and what a delightful surprise. This is not the history presented to me in the required high school course for American History. An enlightening look at the extraordinary Abraham Lincoln, his analytical mind that searched for justice without aspiring to feed political ambitions. Informative and interesting, Mr. Hogan presents the Mexican American War (1846-48) from a holistic vantage point. So very relevant to understanding the relationship between the USA and Mexico with the misunderstood border. A fresh perspective on reading history! –Ellen Akerman, Amazon

“As the moral standard for our country, Abraham Lincoln was front and center in opposing our annexation of Texas and the subsequent rush to war with Mexico, based on falsified claims, outrageous lies, and over-nurtured greed. Michael Hogan, with deft slashes from his academic sword, annihilates the lies and later misrepresentations of Lincoln’s position as fostered by future lazy thinkers. He then proceeds to elucidate the framework by which the United States became a better partner to their southern neighbor, sometimes at the cost of lives sacrificed in battle to oust another foreign interloper: France. This is an important read for both cultures as well as devoted Abe Lincoln admirers.” –Joel Dennstedt, Amazon

“Dr. Hogan began this book because of a student’s comment that the famous Spielberg movie on Lincoln did not even mention Mexico. Annoyed and exasperated by this omission he decided to explore this gap. Luckily for us, Hogan came up with an all-embracing and well-researched ‘biography’ that comprehensively narrates the turbulent period beginning with the Mexican-American war in 1846 and ending with the fall of the French Empire in Mexico in 1867…allowing every one of us to understand how we got to where we are and where we might be tomorrow. –Mauricomoel, Goodreads

“Michael Hogan twists together the disparate strands of the anti-slavery movement, foreign interventions and rights of self-determination in the mid-nineteenth century, into a compelling narrative about geopolitics and the pragmatic approaches to political understanding required by two neighboring nations. This mix of factual, well-sourced material, along with keen insights into the motivations of the parties concerned, is, surely, how all history books for a general readership should be written.” –Tony Burton, Amazon

“Hogan seeks to correct a number of common views of Lincoln that he thinks are not based on a full assessment of the documents available, many of which he reprints in the lengthy appendix to his book. These documents, along with the extensive bibliography, provide a firm basis for a reevaluation of Lincoln in this area and help to explain why he remains one of the most revered American presidents in Mexico. Like his previous book on the San Patricios, ‘Abraham Lincoln and Mexico’ shines bright light on an important area of history that has remained in the shadows for a century and a half. It is an important contribution to understanding Mexican-American history and a step forward in the journey toward truth.” –jsbeauchamp, Barnes&Noble

“This book is as much about the American leader’s moral objections to the war against Mexico and slavery as it is about his hesitations, his political evolution and the people that surrounded him. Unlike other accounts of the Mexican-American War which have robbed Mexicans, former slaves and immigrant soldiers of their complexity, Hogan reminds us that they were not only passive victims of injustice, but also men and women who rose up against it and fought. Most importantly, this text displays Hogan’s gift as a professor and as a writer: his ability to analyze specific events in order to contextualize broader cultural and political trends of the past and the present. I hope that it will help students confront the U.S.’ historical abuses and temper the negative effects of blind patriotism.” –A.S. Carbonell, Amazon

“Dr. Hogan’s meticulous research brings to light an era of Lincoln’s life often ignored by other biographers. Although Lincoln’s opposition to the war is well-documented, some have dismissed it as political posturing or partisan bluster. The historical record, however, shows us that Lincoln’s opposition came from his personal belief that the war represented a terrible injustice unworthy of his beloved United States of America. This book is apt for anyone interested in Abraham Lincoln, US/Mexico relations, political history or imperialist/expansionist policies in historical context. Highly recommended.” –Christopher Minster, Amazon

“Michael Hogan has unearthed and analyzed a crucial aspect of Abraham Lincoln’s political evolution: His stance towards the Mexican-American war of 1846 to 1848. The annexation of former Mexican lands led to the destruction of the north-south balance of power, which led directly into the civil war. Hogan assembles a well-documented case for Lincoln’s distaste for the aggressive war that robbed Mexico of half its territory. Thanks to this book Lincoln emerges once again as the brilliant statesman that he was and, once again, we see him as a guardian and defender of the most precious principles our republic was founded upon. This book is a worthy read and highly recommended.” –Heribert Feilitzsch, Goodreads

“Michael Hogan has written a valuable addition to the long list of histories about Abraham Lincoln. Hogan addresses directly those who minimize Lincoln’s opposition as primarily an expedient political. Instead, Hogan persuasively argues that Lincoln’s opposition to Texas annexation and further expansion in the Southwest was at the core of his free-soil beliefs. Hogan’s narrative covers the lead up to the war as well as U.S. diplomatic relationship with Mexico during the Lincoln Presidency. Abraham Lincoln and Mexico also reminds us of the complicated history of the US and Mexico regarding our shared border.” –Peter Catapano, Amazon

“Dr. Michael Hogan tells the true and intriguing story of the Mexican – American War (1846-1848) which to this day remains untaught and almost unmentioned in the American high school curriculum. As a student who has studied in both the United States and Mexico, this book was particularly interesting due to its truthful portrayal of the United States. Dr. Hogan uses a variety of vital sources which brilliantly contribute to the powerfulness of the history which is being told. Overall, it is a highly recommended read for anyone interested in the true story of the Mexican-American War or the incredible brilliance of President Lincoln.” –Sofia Gates, Goodreads

“Michael Hogan’s Abraham Lincoln in Mexico is a must read for students of US/Mexico relations. It should be read by all high school students north and south of the border! Hogan, with his in-depth research and his superb storytelling, gives us a timely gem!” –Kristen R. Fry, Amazon

“I never knew about Lincoln’s opposition to the war with Mexico. I’ve read quite a bit of history, and I was quite surprised to learn how much I didn’t know about this era… I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys history, and doesn’t want to be limited by what we learn in U.S. schools.” –Jennifer Silva Redmond, Amazon

Thanks again for your interest in the book and in the overall Lincoln and Mexico Project. Don’t forget to check the official Facebook page for frequent posts related to our activity.

The New York Times looks at the US-Mexican War

Photo credits: Image from NYTimes article courtesy of the newspaper. Photo of Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas (l) and author Michael Hogan courtesy of the author.

Sometimes, the gods bestow gifts on authors by focusing attention on content in their books. That’s what happened this week when The New York Times ran an op-ed piece based on a possible lawsuit by Mexico focusing on the legal issues stemming from the illegal US 1846 invasion, conquest, acquisition, and the controversial 1848 treaty that took nearly half of Mexico’s sovereign territory.

The complete 1848 treaty is in Michael Hogan’s book Abraham Lincoln and Mexico, available on Amazon http://amzn.to/2jQRPnI, which discusses how the US reneged on key treaty provisions before Senate ratification. The effort to consider a lawsuit against the United States is led by Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas, the highly-respected founder of the PRD (Mexico’s liberal party) and former presidential candidate. Although the book doesn’t advocate legal action, Hogan and Cárdenas have a long-standing friendship, as you can see by the photo.

As the op-ed points out, “….even if one admits the legal validity of much of the treaty, there are a number of crucial articles — such as those dealing with citizenship, property and the security of 100,000 Mexicans who remained on what became American territory — that have been ignored from the beginning.” The op-ed continues: “The United States owes Mexico and itself an honest reconsideration of its first imperial war, not only in its schools and universities but also in its museums and books.”

In Mexico, the book and the play based on the book continue to receive very positive coverage. Here are two examples:

— Recent coverage includes a lengthy feature article in The Guadalajara Reporter about the World Premiere of the play March 23-25. The play brings to light the friendship between President Lincoln, Mrs. Lincoln, and Mexican envoy Matìas Romero that led to Lincoln’s support for the exiled government of Benito Juárez. Performances at the American School Foundation of Guadalajara were first class, thanks the cast and crew under the direction of Stacy Ohrt-Billingslea, assistant director Tania Romero, and production assistant Paulina Aragon. (Screenshot courtesy of The Guadalajara Reporter.)

— An excellent in-depth feature article in El Ojo del Lago examines Romero’s illustrious career as a diplomat in the USA, beginning with his initial visit to see Lincoln in Illinois just before Lincoln’s inauguration. It also mentions a gala dinner in New York City attended by luminaries including Theodore Roosevelt to honor Romero for his service. History textbooks or other books about Lincoln don’t cover these details, but Hogan found them in archival documents among Lincoln’s papers in the United States and Romero’s diaries in Mexico. (Screenshot courtesy of El Ojo del Lago.)

Heads up, amigos!!! The Spanish Kindle version, Abraham Lincoln y Mexico, is coming!! The official release date is May 13, the anniversary of the date the US Congress declared war on Mexico in 1846. You can pre-order on Amazon at http://amzn.to/2n7minY. Let’s do it! ¡Adelante!

To keep up with news about the book and the play on social media, click here to visit the official Facebook page, which now has more than 2,500 likes. The page reached more than 30,000 people in the past 28 days, almost 17,000 of whom identified Spanish as their preferred language—another reason to release the book in Spanish. A single post featuring positive comments by former Mexican Emb. Carlos Gonzalez-Magallon about relationships between Mexico and the United States reached more than 18,000 people. The post was based on his remarks to the March 25 Saturday matinee audience for the play at the ASFG.

You can help spread the word about the book on social media by going to the GoFundMe campaign to “Send Lincoln to Congress” and clicking to share on Facebook and Twitter. And while you’re there, we hope you’ll contribute to the success of the campaign.

Best regards, and thanks again for your interest in the Lincoln and Mexico Project.