Category Archives: Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War

Posted on by November 10, 2016

Abraham_Lincoln_2The story is often told about how President Abraham Lincoln felt about some of his Generals during the Civil War. Apparently someone complained to Lincoln about the drinking habits of General Ulysses S. Grant.

But the story is told about how Lincoln responded to this complaint by saying something like: “If I knew what brand he used, I’d send every other general in the field a barrel of it.”

It makes for a good story and it really does give us a feeling for Lincoln’s sense of humor. However, at least according to the book “Lincoln’s Stories” by David Homer Bates, Lincoln made a different response when asked if he actually said this remark. He replied to that question: ‘No, I never said that.” read more

Lincoln Likes Jokes

Posted on by November 3, 2016

Abraham_Lincoln_2Abraham Lincoln was one for corny jokes. Or of just plain joking about some corny or crazy situations. For example, one day two young men were having a quarrel. It looked to everyone that it may eventually become serious.

Lincoln, who was considered by those who knew, him to be a fair minded individual, and a man with a penchant for fairness, was chosen to mediate the dispute.

One of the men who had been involved in the argument, and was defeated by Abe’s decision, then threatened Lincoln outright. Abe was much taller than the man who made the threat. Again, he just wanted to be a peacemaker. read more

Abraham Lincoln Quote

Posted on by October 14, 2016

Abraham_Lincoln_2“You can fool all of the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.” It’s a good quote. Most of us attribute that saying to Abraham Lincoln. Even historians.

However, this quote is not found in any of the writings of Abraham Lincoln. It is likewise not found in any of the newspaper articles around Abraham Lincoln’s time. This particular saying did not even come to be known until about 50 years after Abe was supposed to have said it. read more

Abraham Lincoln and the Founding Fathers

Posted on by September 25, 2016

Abraham_Lincoln_2In one of my classes as a guest instructor at a local High School, I asked a question, as I always do. I asked who was the first President of the United States of America. One young man braved his answer and responded: “Wasn’t it Abraham Lincoln?”

I have found that some students actually come off with that as their honest answer. Pardon the pun. Honest Abe. Abe wasn’t the first President. Far from it. George Washington was number 1! Lincoln did honor and look up to George Washington. I say look up to, even though they were actually both about the same height. read more

Presidential Resume’ for Abraham Lincoln

Posted on by September 23, 2016

If you think it’s necessary for political contenders to have nice statistics and resume’s to present on their behalf, you’d be surprised at Abraham Lincoln’s background as a politician. For one thing he loved George Washington.

Abraham_Lincoln_2Here are some of the things he accomplished (or didn’t):

Ran for the Illinois State legislature in 1832 he lost the campaign and also his job.
In 1833 his new grocery business (he was an entrepreneur) business failed. And it took him another 15 years to pay of the debt this caused him.
Elected to the State legislature in 1834.
He lost races for the Illinois speaker of the house in 1836 and 1838.
He ran for U.S. Congress in 1843 but lost.
He was elected to Congress in 1846, but he lost his attempt to be re-nominated in 1848.
He lost his race for land officer in 1849.
He ran for U.S. Senate in 1854 but lost.
In 1858 he again lost his campaign for U.S. Senate.
In 1860 he was elected President of the United States of America.
He was reelected in 1864, but that didn’t work out too well for his as he was soon assassinated! read more

Abraham Lincoln and The Declaration of Independence

Posted on by August 19, 2016

Abraham_Lincoln_2I guess I knew it, but it was decidedly reinforced in the presentation about Abraham Lincoln which I attended at our Education Conference today. What was it? It was that not only was our Constitution hanging in the balance in Lincoln’s administration, but the Declaration of Independence was as well. It was totally repudiated and disavowed by the Southern States in the Civil War.

The written documents of the South firmly rejected the premise of the Declaration of Indpendence that “all men are created equal.” And they likewise discarded that idea along with the whole Declaration! I hadn’t realized that. read more

George Washington, Benedict Arnold and George Will

Posted on by June 26, 2016

GeorgeWashingtonIn all the political turmoil of late, the conservative editorial writer, George Will, has just declared that he will withdraw from the Republican Party. He says they have left him.

Where will Will go? I don’t know. The Democrats won’t take him. They say he’s too conservative. The Republicans don’t want him any longer. They say he’s a turncoat.

I’m sorry, but he reminds me a little of the story of Benedict Arnold. Arnold was a hero at the battle of Lake Champlain. He thought he should be advanced to the office of General. General George Washington agreed. But the Congress wouldn’t grant his request. read more

Abe Lincoln, Politicians, and Storytelling

Posted on by June 25, 2016

To brag little, to lose well,
To crow gently if in luck,
To pay up, to own up,
To shut up if beaten,
Are the virtues of a sportingman.
–Oliver Wendell Holmes, 1841-1935, former Justice of the Supreme Court

Abraham_Lincoln_2Abraham Lincoln, of course, was a lawyer and a politician. I think he lived by the above instructions, if unknowingly. He was also a great storyteller.

He explained it this way: “They say I tell a great many stories; I reckon I do, but I have found in the course of a long experience that common people, take them as they run, are more easily informed through the medium of a broad illustration than in any other way, and as to what the hypercritical few may think, I don’t care!” read more

Abraham Lincoln’s Secret

Posted on by June 14, 2016

Abraham_Lincoln_2Yes, it was Abe Lincoln who initiated the Secret Service. One of his last acts on April 14, 1865, was to found the division to be known as the Secret Service. It was a squad originally organized to prevent the counterfeiting of our currency.

Later that same night, Lincoln and his wife attended the play at Ford’s Theatre. The non-observant guard outside his door, apparently left for a drink at the neighboring pub. John Wilkes Booth pushed his way into Abe’s Presidential box and assassinated him! read more

Abraham Lincoln and a Soldiers Fate

Posted on by May 28, 2016

Abraham_Lincoln_2One fine day an uncompromising woman appeared at the White House and requested an audience with President Abraham Lincoln. She was finally introduced to him and said:

“Mr. President, you must give me a colonel’s commission for my son. I demand of you, sir, not as a favor but as a right. My grandfathers fought at Lexington; my uncle was the only man who did not run at Bladensburg; my father fought at New Orleans and my husband was killed at Monterey.”

President Lincoln solemnly replied: “I guess, madam, that your family has done enough for our country. It’s time to give somebody else a chance.” read more