On March 27, 1865, Albert Hunt made this charcoal sketch of Mr. Lincoln during his visit to General Grant's headquarters at City Point, Virginia.
Character,
Persistence and Toughness
Tonight
we honor Abraham Lincoln, our first Republican
President. The life of
Abraham Lincoln was one
of character, persistence and toughness.
He was born poor--in a one room log cabin. He endured
tragedy through his life. His brother Thomas
died when Abe was three years old. His mother,
Nancy Hanks died when he was nine years old. His
sister Sarah died in childbirth when he was 19 years
old. His love interest Ann Rutledge died from a
fever. His sons Edward and Willie died in
childhood.
Abraham Lincoln knew defeat.
In 1832 he lost election to the Illinois Legislature.
He was elected in 1834 and served eight years.
In 1843, he lost the Whig nomination for the U.S. House
of Representatives.
In 1846, he was elected to the U.S. House of
Representatives. He left after one term.
In 1854 he was elected to the Illinois legislature, but
declined the seat to seek election to the United States
Senate.
In 1855, he lost election to the Senate. In 1856, he lost
the nomination for Vice President on the Republican
ticket.
In 1858, after the seven famous Lincoln-Douglas debates,
he lost election to the United States Senate.
Still, he pursued politics.
In 1860, he won election to the Presidency in a four-way
race. He got only 40 per cent of the popular
vote.
He was a minority President, as the nation faced its
gravest crisis. Within two months of his
election, South Carolina left the Union. By the
time he was sworn into office, on March 4, 1861, seven
states had seceded and formed the Confederacy.
Lincoln, tested by tragedy and defeat, faced the
challenge. His character
prevailed. He brought his political rivals into
the Cabinet. He built a political party.
On April 12, 1861, hostilities broke out at Fort
Sumter. Within the next six weeks, four more
states seceded.
Lincoln used force to quell the
rebellion. Throughout a bloody and unpopular
war, he stood fast. He organized an effective
military. He fired weak generals. He fused
competing regions into a unified Republic. He
established the institutions of a national
government. He ended slavery. He
offered hope and reconciliation to the defeated South.
He was killed on the eve of victory.
Remarks
by Aaron Finestone at 2006 Lincoln Day
Dinner