Lincoln Poll in USA TODAY

[Bill Richter]

On Lincoln's modern reputation, consider this:

Alonzo Taft wrote about the necessities of future history in a letter to his home-state U.S. solon, Senator pro tem Benjamin Wade, on September 8, 1864: “It is to be regretted that history should have to tell so many lies as it will tell, when it shall declare Lincoln’s intrigues and foolishness models of integrity and wisdom, his weakened and wavering indecision and delay far-sighted statesmanship, and his blundering usurpation of legislative power Jacksonian courage and Roman patriotism, but one cannot help it. History goes with the powers that be.”