The 1619 Project (in the New York Times Magazine)

[Amy L.]

But Sept 7. David L. made the following assertion, which was a good point:

"Politicians 'improve' President Lincoln's quotations because on any particular subject matter President Lincoln did not say or write the 'correct' words at the time and thereby conveyed the 'wrong' message on the particular subject matter under current discussion. It's sort of a public service not appreciated by 'purists',..."

Just because Harry Jaffa says the Lyceum speech means [this], does that make it so? Do we want the freedom to use leaders' rephrased words to make a point, or is that misappropriation?