Abraham Lincoln
Bearing the awesome responsibility of the US presidency demands a special kind of person.
Amongst the select few holding that office, a handful stand out for unusual achievements and their leadership in times that shaped the country for ever.
Pre-eminent as a truly great president was Abraham Lincoln.
Lincoln had to resolve a civil war literally tearing the country in half and threatening further fragmentation into weak
and disunited independent states
- replacing the Union that grew to today's global superpower.
It was Lincoln’s leadership, courage and commitment to values
which enabled America to survive the Civil War and embark on the healing process leading back to unity.
Key in progress to unity was Lincoln's appointment
to his cabinet of talented representatives from
opposition parties. Lincoln
sought close advisors from opposing viewpoints to
prevent partisan administration drifting out of touch with the
citizens. Through the “loyal opposition”
representatives in cabinet, Lincoln
understood both sides of key issues, making him a
formidable leader.
But Lincoln's campaign against slavery is
his greatest contribution. Risking all to eradicate
this monstrous and barbaric crime against humanity, Lincoln made a
courageous and principled stand against current popular opinion.
And not without cost.....
The civil war was bitter, bloody, savage and costly as
only civil wars can be - dividing families,
communities and states. The fallen on both
sides were Americans and the economy of the South was
totally ruined.
It took decades for the
material and social ravages of the war to be repaired. The
rift between north and south endured for generations and
remains a feature of the nation's culture.
But notwithstanding all obstacles and his untimely demise, Lincoln
did achieve his dream.
The Emancipation Proclamation permanently abolished slavery,
and Lincoln cemented the achievement with the 13th, 14th and 15th
Amendments to the Constitution making permanent the
hard fought freedoms won through the Civil War.
The freedom won for so many black Americans engraved Abraham Lincoln in the
nation's memory. His monument on Washington’s national mall is visited
by thousands each year paying respect to the president
who made liberty a right and a reality for ALL Americans.
His face on Mount Rushmore is well deserved as
one of the greatest leaders in the country's history.
Happily, it does not feature his wooden false teeth
.....
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