We had the honor of spending four hours with Abraham Lincoln the other day at Ford's Theater in Washington D.C. The theater is the place where President Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth ( who yelled "Sic semper tyrannis!" after shooting him which means And thus to Tyrants! the same thing men who stabbed Julius Caesar said) and it also happens to be a museum and a Junior Ranger site for the National Parks. The president did not die there at the theater he actually died hours later across the street at the Petersen House which is also now a museum called The House Where Lincoln Died. I think it's a funny name for a house. I didn't enjoy the house because they didn't have the exact bed or furniture from that night it was all replicated.
If you would like to visit it or know more here is the link: http://www.nps.gov/foth/index.htm
One thing the Ranger at the theater wanted to make sure we knew was that Lincoln did not abolish slavery but he is credited with doing it by a lot of people. People thought Thomas Jefferson was an inventer too but really he just modified people's good ideas. It's interesting to hear the real version of things and get the straight story. Lincoln did not believe slavery could be abolished in his lifetime because it was such a part of people's lifestyle and money making ability. He said is would have ot be left for another generation. His goal was to fight for what rights and ideas he could to further the cause of anti-slavery. Befriending Frederick Douglass was one way he did this. Another was to encourage people to question their beliefs. A great quote of his is: "Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally."- Abraham Lincoln
If you watched the movie The Conspirator like I did you would know about the unfairness of the trials of the killers and conspirators who were tried in military court under marshall law (military law in times of unrest or war). It is easy to hate the killers. It isn't as easy to understand some of them were "innocent" or had a side to their story. The people felt justified and in times of war kidnapping and killing didn't seem so wrong. It was interesting to see things from their point of view. The movie and the museum also showed that killing President Lincoln was not the first option, kidnapping him was. Another fact was that there were multiple kidnappings and then killings planned by a whole group of people. The other intended victims were Vice President Andrew Johnson and Secretary of State William Seward. Here are the details of the plot: http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USACWatzerodt.htm
Lincoln was the 16th president and was one of the first to change what being a president meant. Before Ronald Reagan was called the "Great Communicator" or FDR had his fireside chats Lincoln with no secret service connected with people and made himself accessible to everyone who wished to speak with him. People would visit the White House and arrive late and Lincoln allowed them to sleep in the entry room until he could greet them the next day to talk. He rode his horse around Washington DC talking to people and trying to be as normal as he could and approachable even though everyone kept saying they were afraid for him. Like me he loved to read and he loved words. For dessert he often read Shakespeare after a long day being president. He used these words and ideas to help people, inspire people and bring them together. He gave wonderful speeches and at the Lincoln Memorial they have two of them really big on the wall. They are the Gettysburg Address and
One of the most impressive things about him was his ability to bring together a country at war with itself. The Civil War was the bloodiest battle and the worst because it was brother against brother and our own citizens killings each other over politics, slavery and money. Lincoln had a tough job in a tough time and a lot of people hated him and wanted him dead because he wrote the Emancipation Proclamation which made it easier to free slaves and allowed them the ability to fight for the Union North army which ended up being the reason the North won the war. Without the black soldiers there wouldn't have been enough men to fight.
President Lincoln was an amazing man and I admire him very much because he was able to stick to his own plan and ideas even when it was unpopular. He held things together during a time when things were falling apart. He had calm, clear words and cool head which was greatly needed then. We could use a President Lincoln right now. Our country seems way off-track from the beginning where we were united. People seem to like to not get involved or just argue and not accomplish anything. President Lincoln did things and got things done and didn't try to be popular with everyone all the time. He listened and was approachable but stayed firm to his beliefs and tried his best to get others to see reason. It's kind of like my mom who helps and gives advice and is a catalyst to change things for the better. (We call her the catalyst as her nickname) She isn't always popular and sometimes can't get people to listen but she tries. Lincoln could have given up and let the South secede from the union but he felt preserving the union at all costs was his highest priority because we had just fought bloody battles to be a union and a free united states of America. If they had torn apart all the deaths of the young men and all the sacrifices would have been pointless. We fought the British for our freedom only to tear each other papart later? It seems so silly. Us kids are told to not fight and make up and compromise and respect each other. Why do adults not have to follow this same advice?
My favorite quotes by President Lincoln are:
"Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be."
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power."
"When you have got an elephant by the hind leg, and he is trying to run away, it's best to let him run."
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