"Herndon was born mediocre"

[Rob Wick]

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