Director Steven Spielberg Finds Lessons in Leadership via Lincoln Movies for Grownups

Steven Spielberg Looking for Lincoln

In an election year the director finds lessons in leadership from a flawed but great president

Art Streiber/August Images Steven Spielberg, director of "Lincoln." If you think the winner of this year's presidential election will face a divided country, just imagine what Abraham Lincoln was up against. In his new movie, Lincoln, director Steven Spielberg explores how America's 16th president — faced with a rebellious South and a skeptical North — heroically led the nation through civil war and . See also: "I wanted to make a movie about a working president, not a posing president," says Spielberg. "At a time when it's become practically automatic to deride politics and politicians, we wanted to explore and celebrate what a great politician can do." Spielberg's got two-time Oscar winner Daniel Day-Lewis (There Will Be Blood) playing his Lincoln, and his script, by Angels in America playwright Tony Kushner, is based on . "We concentrated on Lincoln's political skills," says Spielberg. "I hope our film shows his acumen, his toughness, his clear-sighted judgment — all the things that made it possible for him to do extraordinary things, to change the world." You may also like: Featured AARP Member Benefits See more Entertainment offers > See more Entertainment offers > See more Entertainment offers > See more Entertainment offers > Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures

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