Abraham Lincoln Blog Now On Twitter

This bicentennial year of Mr. Lincoln's birth has been a busy one for celebrating all things Lincoln. Exhibits are continuing to open across the country almost weekly. Concerts and plays are being performed throughout the year. New coins have or will be issued. Discoveries of Lincoln documents or photos seemingly are announced monthly. Magazine articles about Lincoln have been printed in numerous publications. And of course, more Lincoln books are on the horizon all the time.

Like other Lincoln bloggers, it's been difficult for me to keep up. I always strive to report what I think are worthwhile Lincoln "events" but it's just not possible to report everything in a detailed blog post. That combined with a two-month illness in my family has really hindered my ability to post as frequently as I'd like as well as with the quality I demand of myself

I'm going to use Twitter in a couple of ways. First, I'll issue a "tweet" whenever I post a new article on the blog. That way, people can more rapidly find out that a new article is available for reading. Second, I'll use "tweets" for briefer announcements concerning Lincoln news or updates about the blog.

My Twitter user id for this blog is "Mr_Lincoln". Whether you're a longtime reader of this blog, or have found it only recently, please "follow" it on Twitter as together we learn more about Abraham Lincoln.

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Exhibit Review - Lincoln: The Constitution And The Civil War

Back on October 17, 2008 I wrote a post about an exhibit which had just opened at the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Titled "Lincoln: The Constitution And The Civil War, the exhibit examines Lincoln's role in conjunction with the U.S. Constitution during the American Civil War.

A couple of Fridays ago, I took the day off and drove the 500 mile round-trip between my home in northeastern Ohio and Cincinnati so I could experience the exhibit. The exhibit is open only until January 11, 2009 and it was imperative to make the trip prior to the snowstorms hitting the Ohio highways.

The exhibit is in one room of the Freedom Center, and does not cost extra for admission. That's a nice feature, since many museums charge extra fees to see special exhibits. The exhibit takes the visitor from Lincoln's election, tells the story of secession, examines Lincoln's actions, discusses the Emancipation Proclamation, and finally ends with the 13th Amendment, which at last banned slavery in the United States.

"Lincoln" is quite well done. Originally assembled by the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, the exhibit is different in that it is not the usual "putting Lincoln on a pedestal" that so many museums and other exhibitions have done in previous years. The facts are laid out quite clearly: Lincoln did take extraordinary measures in fighting to preserve the Union. He suspended the Writ of Habeas Corpus, thus denying some prisoners the right to trial; ordered the closure of newspapers which opposed his actions; ordered the arrest of people for writing against or speaking against his actions; and essentially had members of the state legislature in Maryland arrested so they could not vote for secession (Maryland never seceded from the Union). The exhibit offers "pro and con" arguments for the actions Lincoln took in his fight for the Union. An interactive display permits visitors to register their opinion or "vote" about whether they think the actions went too far or not. Overwhelmingly, visitors supported Lincoln's actions.

There are some nice interactive displays in the exhibit. For example, case histories of six real-life people are presented. Each of the people was arrested during the Civil War for opposing the war in some manner. The visitor can find out what happened by using a touch screen. The most famous person the visitor learns about is Congressman Clement Vallandigham from Ohio. He was a leading anti-war figure who was a general pain in Lincoln's side. Lincoln had him arrested, then finally ordered his "deportation" to the Confederacy. Other people presented to the visitor are newspaper editors and other anti-war activists.

A very moving video shows footage of the Gettysburg battlefield as the voice of actor Sam Waterston recites the Gettysburg Address. While we can't hear Lincoln's voice, records do tell us that his voice was high-pitched and thin. I suspect that Waterston's voice is a close approximation.

For me, the best part of the exhibit is the collection of very rare and priceless artifacts on display. The visitor can see the original South Carolina ordinance for secession plus a printed copy of it. A top hat attributed to Lincoln is on display. Lincoln campaign items, including a campaign ribbon and a "Wide Awake" hat are shown. A newspaper clipping and original print of Lincoln's First Inaugural address are present. Lincoln's original order (in his handwriting) to resupply Fort Sumter is on loan. An original hand-written copy of the 13th Amendment is on display as well (in Secretary of State Seward's penmanship). An early copy of the Emancipation Proclamation may be seen.

Some disappointments, though. The original article I found about this exhibit stated that there were "100 artifacts" on display. If so, I certainly didn't see any beyond the 20 or 30 in the room. The exhibit itself is quite small. Even reading all the text of the displays, watching the video, and trying my hand at the interactive displays, it took me no more than an hour to get through it. Finally, the lighting was so darkened (in order to preserve the precious items, no doubt) , it would be difficult for someone with weak eyesight to read anything. I've been to other exhibits, including the wonderful touring exhibit of the National Archives documents a few years ago, and the rooms were not nearly as dark.

Disappointments aside, the exhibit is worthwhile for helping the visitor to understand the complexities of Lincoln, the Constitution, and the Civil War. We today are facing many of the same issues as our government tries to balance our safety and our liberties. In my opinion, the government has overstepped its bounds with warrantless wiretapping and the rest of the Patriot Act. It was surprising to me to see on an interactive display in the Lincoln exhibit that over 75% of the visitors think our safety is more important than our freedom. I'm not sure I would agree.

I wouldn't make a trip to Cincinnati *only* for the exhibit, but the Freedom Center is an excellent museum. Cincinnati is also home to a world-class zoo, art museums, a top-notch botanical garden, and of course the beautiful Ohio river waterfront. Just across the river in Newport, Kentucky, there is an outstanding aquarium. It's definitely worth a visit.

My rating of Lincoln: The Constitution And The Civil War?

Four Lincoln log cabins out of five. Had the exhibit been larger, I would have given it a perfect rating.

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'A New Birth Of Freedom' Is Obama Inaugural Theme

The Joint Congressional Committee On Inaugural Ceremonies has announced that the theme for President-Elect Barack Obama's inauguration will be "A New Birth Of Freedom." The theme, borrowed from the closing phrase in Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, was selected by the committee, made up of Democrats and Republicans alike.

Inaugural themes are traditionally chosen to reflect a major anniversary in America, and this year's theme was selected primarily because Obama's inauguration will occur less than a month prior to the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. According to Senator Dianne Feinstein, chairman of the committee,

"At a time when our country faces major challenges at home and abroad, it is appropriate to revisit the words of President Lincoln, who strived to bring the nation together by appealing to 'the better angels of our nature.' It is especially fitting to celebrate the words of Lincoln as we prepare to inaugurate the first African-American president of the United States."

I think the theme is highly appropriate. First and foremost, it is an honor to the memory of the greatest president in our nation's history and not only because of the bicentennial of his birth. In my opinion, at least, the most important phrase in the Gettysburg Address is when Lincoln wrote ".....that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom..." At the onset of the Civil War, Lincoln's main goal was to preserve the Union, with slavery a lower concern of his, if at all. But as the war evolved into the national horror it was, Lincoln gradually came to believe that slavery must be eradicated from the landscape once and for all. Thus his reference to a new birth of freedom, the first being when the U.S. declared its independence in 1776.

Of course, giving freedom to the slaves was just the beginning of the long Civil Rights struggles in our country. The ex-slaves might have been technically "free," but the struggle for "true freedom" has been a long and arduous journey. "Jim Crow" laws placed on the books during the post-Civil War era kept African-Americans segregated, suppressed their right to vote, and were used to terrorize them into submission. The 1960's saw sit-ins, protest marches, and further fights in the battle for not just freedom, but for equality and justice for African-Americans.

This is why Obama's inaugural theme of "A New Birth Of Freedom" is so "fitting and proper." After more than 400 years of slavery, inequality, and injustice for African-Americans in our land, we are about to witness the inauguration of the first African-American president. Of course, that doesn't mean the struggle is finished. But we will be closer, at least, to the finish line.

As a history blogger, I really do try to keep The Abraham Lincoln Blog from being too political. I've commented during this presidential campaign on the various candidates from both major political parties, but only as they pertained to Mr. Lincoln. Candidates compared themselves to Lincoln ("I'll put rivals in my cabinet just like Abe did") or were compared to Lincoln by others. I criticized Ron Paul once for his bizarre statements about Lincoln.

But I do have to admit that I've become a strong supporter of President-elect Obama. No, I don't think he's the Messiah, as some right-wingers accuse Obama voters of believing. While I do think it's too early to call Obama "Lincoln-esque," the parallels are striking. Both Lincoln and Obama exploded onto the national scene, both served approximately the same amount of time in the Illinois Legislature, both had limited experience in national politics. More importantly, Obama's call for unity and his words of hope are so similar to Lincoln's.

I wrote a post back on the evening of Obama's acceptance speech at the Democrat convention which might have cost me a friendship of more than twenty years. That post was written because I was thrilled that history was occurring before our very eyes and I wanted to recognize that in my blog. This friend of mine, who was a groomsman in my wedding, called my post "drivel" and told me it was not "fair and balanced." This is an example of the divisiveness and attacks launched by both sides of the political spectrum for far too long.

If this friendship is lost over an election, I will mourn it. But I rejoice that a message of hope and inspiration won over a message of hate and fear.

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Lincoln Flatboat Hits Some Rough Waters

As many of you know, Abraham Lincoln's flatboat trip down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers is being re-enacted, with the official journey under way just this past week. Seems as if the boat and crew encountered some very rough waters over the weekend from the remnants of Hurricane Ike and had to have some emergency repairs.

According to this article, the flatboat was buffeted by seven foot swells and huge waves on the Ohio River as it journeyed from Elizabethtown, Illinois to Paducha, Kentucky. The crew needed to fix some damage to the cabin in order to make the boat safe for continued travel. Thankfully, no one was injured in the storm.

The flatboat is apparently still on schedule. You may find updates to the schedule at the main site for the recreation of Lincoln's journey here.

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Book Review: "Lincoln And His Boys"

Of the thousands of books written about Abraham Lincoln over the past 150 years, many have been written specifically for children. These books have typically been brief (but complete) biographies or have focused on his presidency or his own childhood. I remember as a young boy being introduced to the world of Lincoln by some of the more famous of these children's books, such as "Meet Abraham Lincoln" and "Abe Lincoln Gets His Chance." The one thing common style in these books was that the author is also the narrator.

An upcoming book titled "Lincoln And His Boys" presents a different and perhaps unique approach to telling the Lincoln story. The book, authored by Rosemary Wells, shows Lincoln through his children's eyes. Targeted for age group 8-12 years, the book's two "narrators" are Lincoln's two younger sons, Willie and Thomas (or "Tad" as he was called). Opening with the year 1859, each "son" relates the major events affecting them and their family. Through the eyes of "Willie" and "Tad" the reader gets to experience their father's preparation for and election to the presidency; the long journey by train from Springfield to Washington; the Civil War; life in the President's House (as the White House was called in those days); and the emotional walk taken through Richmond, Virginia by Lincoln and Tad after it fell. Along the way, the boys share triumph and tragedy with the reader.

The book is scheduled to be published in January 2009 by Candlewick Press. Thanks to Alicia and Laura at the publishing company, I've been given the opportunity to read an advance copy of the book and would like to share my review. I am not associated with Candlewick Press and I have in no way been compensated by the company. The image of the front cover of the book is used by permission and is copyrighted by Candlewick Press.


Initial Impressions:

Rosemary Wells brings Lincoln to life. This Lincoln is much more approachable and real, even to the adult reader. He's not just the crafty politician who becomes president; he's also a father who worships his children, especially Tad, who in real life was apparently uncontrollable. I found this approach to the Lincoln story refreshing and I suspect it will engage younger readers in a way many other books about Lincoln do not.



Positives:

It's obvious that the author spent much time researching the book. Yet the facts never get in the way of the story, an important consideration for a children's book. Minute details are included such as the name of the hotel where Lincoln and Willie stayed while in Chicago, or the name of the boat which carries Tad and his father to Richmond. Wells was careful to have "Tad" refer to his father as "Papa-day" which is how Lincoln was addressed by Tad, who suffered from a cleft palate. "Papa-day" was Tad's way of saying "Papa dear". As the author herself writes, only the dialogue between the characters is fictional.

Emotions come through beautifully in the writing. "Willie" is worried about his mother's reaction to Lincoln's decision to run for the presidency. The reader experiences both the excitement and boredom of the long trip to Washington. "Tad" shares his devastation and loneliness he feels when his beloved brother Willie dies. The reader feels the grief his parents feel as well.

The illustrations were done in oils, which adds a measure of warmth to the book. The illustrator, P.J. Lynch, has done a fine job in bringing to life the stories told by the boys. The paintings are of a much higher quality than you'd find in most other children's books. They convey movement quite well and are beautiful to look at. Some of the illustrations of Lincoln don't resemble him very accurately, but this is not a major problem.

Finally, the book at only 96 pages is just the right length for the targeted age group. It's tells the important events in the Lincoln family's lives, but does not go on so long as to lose the young reader's interest and attention.


Things Which Made Me Think "Hmmmmm...."

As I was reading the book, a couple of concerns came to mind, one of which I think is fairly major. SPOILER ALERT! Do not read this paragraph and the next one if you don't wish to know just how the book ends. OK? OK. Don't say you've not been warned. "Lincoln And His Boys" concludes on the evening of April 11, 1865 with Lincoln giving a speech in celebration of the surrender of Lee's army. "Tad" tells the story to the reader, letting us know that his "Papa-day" asks for the band to play "Dixie" and how Tad is picking up the pages from his father's speech. "Tad" asks his father if they can go home now, Lincoln smiles, and basically says they can. And that is how the book concludes. It gives the appearance that everyone lived happily ever after, and of course, they did not. Lincoln was shot three nights later and died the morning after that. I've gone back and forth in my mind about the ending for a few days now whether or not I think the ending is appropriate. Other children's books about Lincoln, including ones I read early on, discuss the assassination. It's a tragic ending to the Lincoln story, but it's possibly THE event which helped to gain his entry into the pantheon of American history. On the other hand, the evening of celebration in Washington that night just might have been the last happy night of poor Tad's life. His mother never recovered from losing two sons (Eddie and Willie) and she truly became unhinged after the death of her husband. Tad himself would live only 6 more years, succumbing to tuberculosis at the age of 18. In some respects, I can understand why the horrible endings were left out of the book.

Still, I think some mention of the assassination needs to be made. I would suggest the addition of an epilogue or an afterward in which the final facts are explained at an age-appropriate level. In the epilogue, it could be the author telling the reader about what happened, as opposed to "Tad" talking about it. The important thing to consider is that this book could be the first introduction to Abraham Lincoln and his family for many young readers. These readers need to know the entire story, especially since the rest of the book is so accurate.

(end of spoiler!)

Another thing which struck me, albeit on a less important level, is that Ms. Wells makes no mention of the Lincoln family dog left behind in Springfield. "Fido," as he was known, was not taken to Washington with the family because he was terrified of loud noises. Lincoln felt that the dog would not survive the journey on the loud train, and the dog was left in the care of another family. However, Fido was a special member of the family and strict instructions were left with his new owners on how to care for him. Even his favorite horsehair sofa was left so Fido could have some measure of comfort. It is known that Tad, especially, begged Lincoln to not leave Fido behind. Sadness is not avoided in the book and it would've made the overall story about Lincoln and his boys even more endearing if this episode would've been talked about by "Willie" or "Tad."

Finally, I think a basic "table of facts" should have been included. Kids might like to learn more about Lincoln or his boys and birth dates, birthplaces, important events, and so on would have been very helpful.


OVERALL:

"Lincoln And His Boys" is a much-welcomed addition to the world of children's books written about Mr. Lincoln. Indeed, it has the potential to become a classic read for children who want to learn more about our nation's 16th president. The unique approach to the story is refreshing, educational, and very entertaining. It helps the reader, no matter his or her age, to see Lincoln as he was, instead of as some long-dead president who is frozen in time. The ending does leave something to be desired, which is a shame considering how delightful and accurate the story telling is. Nonetheless, I will recommend it to anyone of any age who is interested in learning more about Abraham Lincoln.



RATING:

4.5 out of 5 Log Cabins - Highly recommended.




Publishing Information:

"Lincoln And His Boys" is due for publication in January 2009 by Candlewick Press.

Author: Rosemary Wells

Illustrator: P.J. Lynch

96 Pages Hardbound - $16.99

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Abraham Lincoln's Political Experience

In recent weeks, I've been noticing a growing number of "hits" on this blog resulting from searches of "Abraham Lincoln political experience" and searches similar to this. Although I did post an "opinion piece" back in January which very briefly mentioned Lincoln's political experience, I thought I'd use this post to discuss it in greater detail.

Abraham Lincoln's political experience began with a loss when he ran for the state legislature of Illinois in 1832. Although he won nearly all of the votes in his own village of New Salem, he lost the overall vote across the district. Later in life, Lincoln loved to point out that it was the only time in his life that he lost an election on a direct vote of the people. He ran again in 1834, was this time the second highest vote getter and obtained a seat in the legislature. He served 4 consecutive terms in the Illinois legislature, eventually rising to become the Whig party leader there. It was in this capacity as a state representative and party leader that Lincoln learned the fundamentals of politics which would later serve him so brilliantly.

Lincoln's national political experience prior to running for and being elected president was limited to a single term in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1846 to 1848. A lot of searches I've been noticing are for "Lincoln U.S. Senate." No, Mr. Lincoln was a Congressman, not a senator. His single term in the House (as a member of the Whig party) was mostly undistinguished. His one shining moment came in January 1848 when he made a powerful speech in Congress criticizing President James K. Polk for leading the nation into an unnecessary war, that being the Mexican War (which had begun in 1846). He challenged President Polk to provide proof of the need for the war, the amount of money spent on it, and the future plans of the administration once the war was over. He also claimed that the president's actions were unconstitutional. Unfortunately for Lincoln, his speech was ignored by the administration, unnoticed by the national press, and angered many of his constituents, who ended up questioning his patriotism. The speech was used against him in future years. After having promised to limit his time in Congress to a single term, Lincoln returned to private law practice in Springfield in 1849.

Lincoln continued to be involved in politics although he did not hold any elective office after his Congressional term until he won the presidency in 1860. After the collapse of the Whig Party in the early 1850's, Lincoln joined the new (at that time) Republican Party and was for a time considered to be a possible vice-presidential candidate in the 1856 election.

It was not until his contest for U.S. Senator in 1858 that Abraham Lincoln truly burst onto the national political stage. The series of debates with his opponent, Stephen Douglas, captured the attention of the nation. At that time, U.S. Senators were chosen by the legislatures of the respective states, and Lincoln eventually lost his bid for the Senate, the more politically experienced Douglas emerging as the winner. But through these brilliant debates, mostly argued over slavery, Lincoln became the towering national figure he was apparently destined to be.

To summarize, Lincoln was a state legislator for 8 years and a U.S. Congressman for 2 years before he was elected president. He didn't have much experience as an office-holder, but he went on to become the country's greatest president. Other men (see John Quincy Adams and James Buchanan) had far more experience than he, yet failed miserably in their presidencies. This is why in my opinion, at least, political experience is not a predictor of success or failure of a potential president.

For an outstanding recounting of Lincoln's early political career in the state legislature of Illinois and his term in Congress, the reader can do no better than David Herbert Donald's superb biography, "Lincoln." Doris Kearns Goodwin's "Team Of Rivals" focuses more on Lincoln's politics at the national level, but is also quite good. Entire books have been written about the Lincoln-Douglas debates, but the classic reference work is Harold Holzer's "The Lincoln-Douglas Debates, the First Complete Unexpurgated Text" from 1993.

I hope this brief "lesson" about Mr. Lincoln's political experience is helpful. Please feel free to comment.

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Lincoln's Dog Fido

Many people don't know that Abraham Lincoln and his family owned a pet dog while they lived in Springfield, Illinois. Fido was born in circa 1855 and lived with the Lincoln family for five happy years. The dog was of uncertain ancestry, but closely resembled a retriever/shepherd mix and was roughly the color of mustard.

Fido often followed Lincoln around the streets of Springfield, happily carrying the daily paper or some other object for his master. The dog would wait calmly outside the barbershop while Lincoln would get a trim. Fido was apparently a full-fledged member of the family and was an inside dog with the run of the house. He loved a horsehair sofa in the home and often claimed it for his own.

His time with the Lincoln family ended upon Lincoln's election to the presidency. Lincoln noticed how terrified Fido was of the cannon blasts marking Lincoln's election and never enjoyed being around trains. Lincoln loved animals with a passion (he abhorred hunting and fishing, for example) and strongly believed that Fido would not survive the trip to Washington. So with great sorrow, the Lincolns gave Fido to a local family with the stipulation that he be an indoor dog, given special treats, allowed the run of the home, etc. In fact, the Lincolns even gave Fido's favorite horsehair sofa to the family who took over the raising of Fido.

Fido was still living at the time of Lincoln's assassination and his new owners brought the dog to greet mourners at the Lincoln family home in Springfield. Sadly, Fido himself was killed by a drunken man within a year of Lincoln's death.

Today, original photos or cartes-de-visite (CDV's) of Fido are highly sought after by collectors of Lincoln memorabilia. An original CDV of Fido can fetch upwards of hundreds or even thousands of dollars. They were sold as souvenirs in the months after Lincoln's death.

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The Lincoln Funeral Train Carving By An American Master

At the Warther Museum in the small northeastern Ohio town of Dover, visitors can view masterpiece scale-replica carvings of famous trains from American history.

Ernest "Mooney" Warther was both an artistic and mechanical genius. One of his most magnificent creations is this exquisitely detailed model of the Abraham Lincoln funeral train. Carved in just one year from ebony wood and ivory, this model train has been called a priceless piece of art by the Smithsonian Institution. The wheels and other parts are movable as well. The carving is an exact scale replica of the original train which carried Lincoln's body back to Springfield, Illinois.

To me, the most astonishing thing about this and the other carvings in the museum is the fact that Mr. Warther had only a second grade education. His models are not only beautifully detailed, but they required an outstanding knowledge of mechanical engineering as well.

Dover, Ohio is located approximately 30 miles south of Canton or about 100 miles from Columbus. The museum is well worth the visit.

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