A Sandburg Stumper

[Rob Wick]

Correct, Steve. It was Lamon.

In 1948 when Donald was writing Lincoln's Herndon, he had asked Sandburg to write the preface, which Sandburg agreed to do. Donald wrote the letter to Sandburg relating the story of how Herndon didn't want his picture taken for Lamon's biography of Lincoln, but that he eventually relented.

When DaCapo Press brought out the reprint of Lincoln's Herndon, the Sandburg preface was not included. I've often wondered if Randall had urged Donald to ask Sandburg to write the preface and Donald did so only to please his mentor.

Best
Rob