Category Archives: Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln and Books

Posted on by May 14, 2016

It has been said “There are three things to leave behind: Your photographs, your library and your personal journals. These things are certainly going to be more valuable to future generations than your furniture!”

In my career as an estate planning attorney, I got to learn about some valuable transfers on a persons death. Some were unusual, like a 1908 Maytag automobile. I hadn’t even know that Maytag made an automobile.

One of my clients had accrued during his lifetime several, and I mean like numbered in the 20’s, of Beethoven’s original musical scores. The originals. He even showed me some. He left his collection upon his death to his Alma Mater, a California University. What a legacy. read more

More Presidential Assassinations

Posted on by May 13, 2016

Library of Congress Reading RoomAs I told you yesterday, I have learned some interesting facts from reading a fiction Bestseller. But I didn’t mention the name of the book or the author. So if you are interested, the name of the book is “the Fifth Assassin” by Brad Meltzer. The main character is Beecher White who is an archivists and the National Archives in Washington, D.C.

An archivist is, of course, someone who is in charge of Archives. An archive is a place where public records or historical documents are kept. The National Archives in Washington is a beautiful building in the District in which the original Declaration of Independence, the U. S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and many other very important historical documents are kept. read more

Lincoln’s Foundry Church

Posted on by May 12, 2016

I just finished reading an exciting mystery novel the hero of which was a archivist in the Nation’s Capitol. It was a good book and a very interesting plot, with lots of tidbits of history interspersed.

For example, did you know anything about the Foundry Church in Washington, DC? Neither did I. A foundry is by definition a factory to make cannons and other guns. Henry Foxall built and ran a factory in that city, and that’s what they did. They made guns and cannons for the U. S. Government in the 1800’s. And he was quite good at it. read more

The Tact of the Founding Fathers

Posted on by May 5, 2016

“So be sure when you step,
step with care and great TACT.
And remember that life’s
A great balancing act.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will indeed!
–Dr. Seuss

Abraham_Lincoln_2“Tact is the ability to see others as they see themselves.”
–Abraham Lincoln

“So you’ve got a problem? That’s good. Why? Because repeated victories over your problems are the rungs on your ladder to success With each victory you grow in wisdom, stature, and experience. You become a bigger, better, more successful person each time you meet a problem and tackle and conquer it with a positive mental attitude.”
–W. Clement Stone read more

Our Two Honest Presidents

Posted on by March 30, 2016

GeorgeWashington“Oh, he’s a politician, you can’t believe anything he says!”

That’s what I heard the other day standing near a couple talking about the upcoming elections. It made me stop and think. Is that really what it has come to?

The story about George Washington and the cherry tree used to be taught in schools to help youngsters learn about honesty. Now it’s often pooh-poohed as a made up tale. The bloom is off the cherry tree—or at least it’s story.

Parson Weems, a regular at George Washington’s dinner table, wrote the story after George had passed away. It may be based
in fact. Parson may have heard it from George himself. (I’m not going to tell the story here, so for more on that tale, go to Founding Fathers—Uncommon Heroes, pages 39-41, if you’d like to read more about it). read more

The U. S. Constitution and Its Amendments

Posted on by March 14, 2016

constitutionThere has been much talk in the recent political arena about protecting the Constitution. There hasn’t been much talk about the Constitution itself and what it says or means. I sometimes wonder how much politicians, Senators, Representatives, Judges and even citizens really know about the Constitution. But it does make for a good sound bite.

When I think about the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1987, I am amazed that it even got ratified. There was much debate and disagreement. The room at Independence Hall was locked and the windows closed so the people wouldn’t see the contention in the debates. (Think of the televised debates today!) read more

Snoopy, Lincoln, and the Presidency

Posted on by March 6, 2016

Abraham_Lincoln_2There’s an old Peanuts comic strip which shows Snoopy on the top of his dog house making several severe or angry looking faces—in one panel after the other. In the last panel I have changed some of Snoopy’s words in his thought bubble to say: “I would have made a good presidential nominee candidate!”

I sometimes wonder if any of our current presidential nominee candidates remember the quote ascribed to Abraham Lincoln. One day an old friend of President Lincoln, one who had lived as a neighbor of his in Springfield was visiting Abe in the White House. read more

Just Facts about U.S. Presidents

Posted on by February 23, 2016

Ronald ReaganWith our upcoming Presidential Election coming this year, I thought you might be interested in a few fascinating facts about our past presidents.

The oldest President—Ronald Reagan

The youngest President—Theodore Roosevelt

The youngest to be elected President—John F. Kennedy

The shortest President—James Madison (5’4’’)

The heaviest President—William Taft 321 lbs. in 1911 (a new larger   bathtub was installed for him in the White House)

The first President to live in the White House at Washington, DC—John Adams read more

Lincoln and Federal Judgeships

Posted on by February 21, 2016

Abraham_Lincoln_2I don’t know why, but the passing of Justice Antonin Scalia reminds me of a story about Judges, Lawyers, and President Lincoln.

A great admirer of President Abraham Lincoln once appeared in front of President Lincoln and asked for an appointment as a federal judge as a reward for some campaigning he had done in Illinois. The President, who was aware of the man’s complete lack of judicial attributes told the man: “There simply are no vacancies at the present time.”

That man left. Early the next day, this same man was walking along the Potomac River and he saw a man being pulled from the river, drowned. He immediately recognized the man as a federal judge. Without any hesitation, the man again presented himself to President Lincoln as he was eating breakfast. He told President Lincoln what he had seen and demanded an appointment to this new vacancy. read more

Happy Birthday Abe!

Posted on by February 12, 2016

Abraham_Lincoln_2Today is Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. I remember when we celebrated this birthday on his actual birthday, in school, with lots of information and details about his wondrous life and what he did as president. I loved it, even as much as Valentines day. Honest Abe we called him. And we heard stories about his log splitting, his politicking on trains, and even the growth of the beard as suggested by a young girl.

Then, of course, we also celebrated George Washington’s birthday, on his real birthday, too. His real birthday is February 22. We heard from our school teachers about him cutting down the cherry tree and then telling his dad “I cannot tell a lie!” and other tidbits of his true character. These two men were great examples to us, not only of honesty, but also of strength of character, overcoming obstacles, facing daunting problems. read more