Abraham Lincoln: "Big enough to be inconsistent."

[L Verge]

(02-13-2017 05:43 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  I still think our former chancellor Brandt spoke very well at Lincoln's 150th anniversary banquet in Springfield:

"In Abraham Lincoln intellectual force was matched with moral strength. He understood the spirit as well as the needs of his time; and he was possessed of that pragmatic way of thinking which is conducive to successful action and which always stands the test if it is anchored in firm convictions."

The entire speech is here:
http://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussio...t#pid56517

I have used the word "pragmatic" so many times in describing Lincoln's actions to the public at Surratt House, and I used it during teaching. I consider myself a pragmatist (probably from being an only child who devised methods to get my way!). I'm hoping we find more pragmatic politicians in the future who have firm convictions about what America needs and what is good for America as a whole.

[LincolnMan]

I re-read my original post to this thread. It still rings true. Lincoln was and still is too important on so many levels to brush aside as if he doesn’t matter anymore. What he did, what he accomplished, and who he was were such that any flaws he may have had (and he had them), are diminished to the point of being of no consequence. That’s why we still study this man.

[ELCore]

"Abraham Lincoln was a Southern poor white, of illegitimate birth, poorly educated and unusually ugly, awkward, ill-dressed." (Du Bois)

I see a lot of pushback to the idea of ugliness, but I'm wondering where the notion of illegitimate birth comes from. Surely, there is no doubt that Thomas and Nancy were married long before Abraham's birth. Indeed, he was their second child.

[LincolnMan]

I wonder if at the time of that comment it was a common notion that Lincoln was of an illegitimate birth?

[brtmchl]

"Abraham Lincoln was a Southern poor white" I always thought it was Western Frontier, but apparently people still debate whether Kentucky or parts of Kentucky are Southern, Northern or Midwest. My favorite was someone referring to it as "Southern Lite."

[Gene C]

Western parts of KY are southern in culture. Areas around Louisville and eastern KY are northern.
Where Lincoln was born would be considered in the southern leaning zone.