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Learning from Lincoln: Both Onscreen and Off
Townhall,com ^ | December 8, 2012 | Daniel Doherty

Posted on 12/08/2012 8:28:33 AM PST by Kaslin

What is it about Abraham Lincoln that has captured the hearts and minds of the American public since his assassination nearly 150 years ago? After all, one could argue -- rather persuasively -- that our 16th president was the least qualified candidate ever elected to high national office; in fact, his public service record included just four terms in the Illinois state legislative, one unremarkable term in the House of Representatives, and two unsuccessful bids for the US Senate. In addition, he had virtually no executive experience and, as his contemporaries invariably pointed out, Lincoln seemed wholly unfit to lead the nation during the chaotic and consequential times in which he lived.

And yet what’s so striking about Steven Spielberg’s outstanding film “Lincoln” is the eponymous hero’s latent political acumen. Since his death in 1865, Abraham Lincoln has been immortalized as the “Great Emancipator” and “The Rail-Splitter” -- two larger-than-life epithets that continue to inspire our collective imaginations. But, as Spielberg sharply demonstrates (through the talented Irish-born actor Daniel Day-Lewis) Lincoln was, after all, a human being -- a man who struggled, fought and ultimately died for the one indispensable cause that meant everything to him: the right for a free people to govern themselves.

Historians such as Eric Foner and the late David Herbert Donald have written important and absorbing works about Lincoln’s life and legacy. His empathy, keen wit, good-humored temperament, and passion for storytelling are only a few of the amiable characteristics evinced in the film. But perhaps Lincoln’s greatest quality -- as painstakingly revealed in Doris Kearns Goodwin’s absorbing book “Team of Rivals,” on which the aforementioned movie is partly based -- was his ability to recognize and seize opportune political moments.

Far from being the country bumpkin and second-rate lawyer often depicted in the contemporary newspaper articles of his day -- Lincoln was in fact a shrewd and cunning politician. And this trait is manifested brilliantly in the film when he decides -- against the wishes of some of his most ardent supporters -- to pursue a constitutional amendment to abolish slavery.

At the very beginning of the movie, there’s a seemingly inconsequential scene in which Secretary of State William Seward (ably portrayed by David Strathairn) attempts to convince his boss that mobilizing support for a 13th Amendment to abolish slavery was not only political suicide, but would be met -- inevitably -- with harsh and vigorous criticism from House Democrats. Lincoln, however, with his characteristic soft-spoken charm, replies coolly: “I like our chances now.”

While this conversation probably never actually took place (indeed, Goodwin makes no mention of it in “Team of Rivals”), it is a simple yet revealing response. This echoes Lincoln’s patience to wait for the appropriate tactical moment to announce his Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation to the general public in September 1862 (after the Union army’s long-awaited victory at Antietam). He likewise, in this situation, understood the importance of timing. And with the 1864 lame-duck session in full swing (and the public’s increasingly growing desire to finally settle the slavery question -- in Lincoln‘s words -- “for all coming time” before the war ended and the Emancipation Proclamation became null and void), the 16th president recognized that now was the decisive moment to act.

Eschewing the initial advice of his supporters, he shrewdly rounded up the requisite votes (by any and all means necessary) from an unlikely coalition of former Whigs, conservative Republicans, and War Democrats. In the end, after several weeks of cajoling, lobbying and politicking, the amendment passed by a razor-thin margin of two votes in a Congress of 184 Representatives.

One need only spend a few hours watching “Lincoln” (a masterful and deeply engrossing film that I encourage all Americans to go and see) to understand why our 16th president was by all accounts “a political genius.”

And there is still much we can learn from him.

Indeed, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has reportedly invited Steven Spielberg to screen “Lincoln” in the U.S. Senate Chamber later this month. Perhaps this might just do some good, and impel Senate Republicans and Democrats to finally put aside their differences (at least until the looming “fiscal cliff” fiasco is averted) for the sake of the nation.

After all, given the grossly partisan antics we’ve seen thus far, it certainly can’t hurt.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Government
KEYWORDS: abrahamlincoln; conservativefilms; danieldaylewis; harryreid; hollywood; senate
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To: Kaslin
That is your opinion to which you are entitled. Nothing more

Thank you me Lord.

FMCDH(BITS)

21 posted on 12/08/2012 3:01:05 PM PST by nothingnew (I fear for my Republic due to marxist influence in our government. Open eyes/see)
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To: Paperdoll
Cultish adulation of politicians only blinds one to political realities and reduces history to a cartoonish story line with simplistic heroes and villains. Elevating any politician to the level of a secular deity as has been done first by the GOP and then by the leftist statists who came after reflects poorly on what is supposed to be a republic. Our leaders are not gods but men. Seeing them as gods, as Lincoln seated like Zeus at Olympia in a pseudo-Greek temple is a monument to the debasement of the republic. Lincoln was a clever politician nothing more. He stumbled into a civil war because he as most men in the North, could not believe the South was really serious about separating. He compounded his blunder by pushing the states of the upper South out of the Union by apportioning his call for volunteers to those states as well as the North. Lincoln the President is worth studying not as some comic book figure but as the relentless pragmatist who would do what ever it took to win. A man with no fixed principles but clear goals and objectives he is a model of the ruthless power driven success oriented leader. Unfortunately he is not around to deal with the Muslims. I am sure he could figure out how to do a Burning billy Sherman act on them while claiming he was liberating them for a ‘new birth of freedom’ or something.
22 posted on 12/08/2012 3:43:27 PM PST by robowombat
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To: Neoliberalnot
The bigger the killer the greater the retrospective stature. Romanians consider Vlad Tepes as one of their greatest heroes. Russians cling to the image of the all powerful Vozd Joseph Stalin.Today Stalin has once more been elevated into the pantheon of Russia's greatest heroes. Lincoln was successful, he fought a great war, hundreds of thousands died, it was grand. He is a hero.
23 posted on 12/08/2012 3:49:02 PM PST by robowombat
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To: loveliberty2

Outstanding.


24 posted on 12/08/2012 3:52:08 PM PST by EternalVigilance (Yes, America, life outside the socialist cell door is risky, but liberty is worth it, believe me.)
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To: Kaslin

And yours are something more?


25 posted on 12/08/2012 4:22:31 PM PST by robowombat
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To: robowombat

Not at all


26 posted on 12/08/2012 6:53:53 PM PST by Kaslin ( One Big Ass Mistake America (Make that Two))
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To: robowombat

And why was Lincoln’s life worth one more penny than any of those boys he sent to certain death to kill their fellow Americans.


27 posted on 12/09/2012 9:01:31 AM PST by Neoliberalnot (Marxism works well only with the uneducated and the unarmed.)
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To: Neoliberalnot

My goodness! Where did you get your education? From Obama? If ever anyone needed the Lord, you do.


28 posted on 12/09/2012 9:02:28 AM PST by Paperdoll
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To: Paperdoll

Why not simply address the subject matter rather than make a personal attack ?


29 posted on 12/09/2012 9:08:17 AM PST by Neoliberalnot (Marxism works well only with the uneducated and the unarmed.)
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To: robowombat

I do not think of Abraham Lincoln s a politician, a god, or even an idol of any kind. I think of him as a human being who, through his faith, rose above difficult times, rejection, the and stupidity of his peers to achieve through human trial and error the goals God had in mind for him. I also think of him as a kindred soul.


30 posted on 12/09/2012 9:15:11 AM PST by Paperdoll
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To: Neoliberalnot

Your warped vision of Abraham Lincoln requires inquiry as to the source of your unworthy rant. The entire nation deeply mourned the untimely demise of a great and loved American. The tracks of his funeral train were lined with many thousands of his countrymen standing in silent honor of their valiant leader.


31 posted on 12/09/2012 9:32:07 AM PST by Paperdoll
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To: Kaslin
(Article) After all, given the grossly partisan antics we’ve seen thus far, it certainly can’t hurt.

Are you kidding? Lincoln's entire presidency was one long train of "grossly partisan antics". What do you call a civil war in which one kills rather than persuades -- "statesmanship"?

32 posted on 12/09/2012 12:20:13 PM PST by lentulusgracchus
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To: Paperdoll
The entire nation deeply mourned the untimely demise of a great and loved American.

He wasn't great and loved until after he was safely dead.

33 posted on 12/09/2012 12:21:52 PM PST by lentulusgracchus
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To: Nowhere Man

Interesting that there was a character who looked exactly like Ted Kennedy.

I had heard that speilberg apologized for Showing Republicans in a good light in the film when it opened in NYC but I cannot find the link to confirm this.


34 posted on 12/09/2012 2:11:50 PM PST by Chickensoup (Leftist Totalitarian Fascism coming to a country like yours.)
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To: Paperdoll

My unworthy rant rests with the 650,000 young men and boys in their graves. Your warped view simply rests on a single menacing monster most responsible for not allowing southern states to separate in peace. You clearly place greater value on paper of big government over the lives of people. The Jesus Christ I follow sees all people of equal value.


35 posted on 12/09/2012 2:24:08 PM PST by Neoliberalnot (Marxism works well only with the uneducated and the unarmed.)
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To: Neoliberalnot

Freedom has never been free.

I, too, believe all people are born equal. Of course some of them were born black. The economy of the south depended on black slaves, who definitely were not treated equally.

The Civil War and President Lincoln’s emancipation paraoclamation ended slavery, and apparently the South will never get over it.


36 posted on 12/09/2012 2:55:08 PM PST by Paperdoll
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To: lentulusgracchus

The Civil War rages on......


37 posted on 12/09/2012 2:57:09 PM PST by Paperdoll
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To: Paperdoll
The economy of the south depended on black slaves, who definitely were not treated equally.

Only the absolutely largest plantations had slaves and were profitable. The average farmer picked his own damn cotton. The ENTIRE economy of the South did not depend on slavery. That is just bull$h1t. Only 15% of households had slaves. Feeding and housing slaves cradle to grave was an expensive proposition.

38 posted on 12/09/2012 3:04:08 PM PST by central_va ( I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: Paperdoll
The Civil War and President Lincoln’s emancipation paraoclamation[sic] ended slavery,

Apparently you know nothing....

39 posted on 12/09/2012 3:05:41 PM PST by central_va ( I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: Paperdoll

I am not from the South. My family fought for the North, but yet I see the massive evil that was done. The Africans were sold by their own people and ended up far better off here regardless. Less than 10% of southerners owned slaves. Most people today are simply slaves to big government. Try living out from under government and find your property taken, be caged like a lower animal, or killed by a swat team. Lincoln did not start the war to end slavery but to expand his power and to him killing 600 or 6 million was of little consequence.


40 posted on 12/09/2012 4:37:22 PM PST by Neoliberalnot (Marxism works well only with the uneducated and the unarmed.)
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