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"Herndon was born mediocre"
Going through Tarbell's papers, I found a letter in which the writer told Tarbell his opinion that William Herndon was "born mediocre and of course never discovered the fact."
Tarbell didn't have much use for Herndon generally, and it seems most Lincoln aficionados either hate him or strongly support him. Of course, there was what can only be called a cheap shot at Mary Todd Lincoln where Ann Rutledge is concerned (which doesn't make his story any less true), but what about Herndon generally? Does he deserve a poor reputation or has he been treated shabbily in history's eyes?
Best
Rob
Abraham Lincoln is the only man, dead or alive, with whom I could have spent five years without one hour of boredom.--Ida M. Tarbell
I want the respect of intelligent men, but I will choose for myself the intelligent.
--Carl Sandburg
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"Herndon was born mediocre"
