Mutual Trust and Confidence: The Requirement for a Harmonious Relationship between the President and the Warfighter

摘要

Abraham Lincoln had been president for 39 days when the U.S. civil war began. A 34 year old West called to Washington to command the Army of the Potomac, mobilize a small army, and eventually serve as General in Chief. Displaying an enormous and unjustified ego, a procrastination and overcautiousness in the preparation for confidence of his superiors as months passed without movement of the Union army. Conspicuous among McClellan's working relationship with the President and share a vision of the policy and strategy for the restoration and preservation of the Union. Lincoln fired McClellan. After a long search to find a competent General in Chief, Lincoln promoted U.S. Grant to Lieutenant General and General in Chief. Grant was a perfect junior partner in the senior-subordinate relationship with the President, subordinating himself to the President's policy and strategic concepts while doing what was necessary to defeat the rebel armies. The Lincoln-Grant team stands as a model for illustrating the value of harmonious soldier-statesman, senior-subordinate relationships.