Extra Credit Questions

[David Lockmiller]

And thank you, David, for giving yet another example of evidence that Tad Lincoln was often out of control and his father did nothing to diffuse him. Rest my case.

This is how the verbal interchange between President Abraham Lincoln and Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton should have been understood by everyone reading this story:

“Let me give you, [Stanton], a bit of fatherly counsel. You know as well as I do that men are just boys of larger growth. Can’t you see that you’re to blame for this whole business? You’ve kept that boy’s blood at the boiling point for several weeks now. He doesn’t like the way you talk to me. After you went out the other day he asked me why I didn’t take you across my knees and give you a good spanking – and because I laughed at the idea then, he has taken the matter into his own hands.

You’re getting yourself disliked on all sides by fuming and swearing at everybody, and Tad isn’t the only person who resents some of the things you say to and about me. If you can make that boy your friend, you will be better able to win the war and save the Union. [By implication, this policy statement equally applied to others with whom Stanton had been unnecessarily "fuming and swearing at."]

Edwin M. Stanton forgave Tad and even the sorry plight he was in, as he seized the hand of the Chief and said fervently: “I believe you’re right, Mr. President, I believe you’re right.”

Laurie, of all people, I thought that you would have understood and appreciated this important life lesson taught in a fatherly way to and enthusiastically accepted by his grown-up Secretary of War on the spot; but, apparently, not. And, it would appear that others here also did not recognize, understand and appreciate the significance of the interchange that day between President Abraham Lincoln and his Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton. I believe that Edwin Stanton became a changed man after that discussion.