Simply Lincoln

The length of any performance can range between 45 to 75 minutes. Possible programs themes include:

1. The turbulent years of his national importance (1858 – 1865)
2. His troubles and trials with his generals
3. Slavery and emancipation (1850 – 1863).

Two successful and often-requested programs are 1863: Lincoln's Remarkable Year and With Charity for All: Lincoln's Last Year. These two programs are detailed below.

at the Connecticut State Capitol

reviewing the troops

During that year, Abraham Lincoln:

1. Signed the Emancipation Proclamation, the first president to "touch" slavery.
2. Began to see Ulysses Grant as a candidate to be overall military commander.
3. Met Frederick Douglass for the first time.
4. Wrote a letter to James C. Conkling for the largest pro-Union rally of the war. If he delivered the letter as a speech it would have been considered one of his greatest.
5. Signed a proclamation designating Thanksgiving as a national holiday in November.
6. And delivered the Gettysburg Address. Now that's a remarkable year!

This program includes the following:

Excerpts, Message to Congress in Special Session  (July 4, 1861)
Excerpt, reply to Editorial by Horace Greeley of  The New York Tribune   (Aug. 22, 1862)
Conclusion, Annual Message to Congress   (Dec. 1, 1862)
Excerpts, The Emancipation Proclamation  (Jan. 1, 1863)
Excerpts, letter to Major General Joseph Hooker (Jan. 23, 1863)
Excerpts, letter to Major General George G. Meade  (July 14, 1863)
Letter to Major General Ulysses S. Grant   (July 13, 1863)
Excerpt, letter to James C. Conkling   (Aug. 23, 1863)
Excerpts, The Thanksgiving Proclamation  (Oct. 3, 1863)
Letter to Mrs. Alice C. Smith  (Oct. 12, 1863)
The Gettysburg Address   (Nov. 19, 1863)

Due to the nature of the host’s invitation and time constraints, the length of above program can be easily modified.

This presentation will focus on the last fourteen months of Abraham Lincoln’s presidency, beginning with the appointment of Lt. General Grant as the overall commander of the armies. During the summer of 1864, Lincoln despaired at his prospects of being re-elected, but victories by Generals Sherman and Sheridan propelled Lincoln towards a successful re-election. He urged Congress to approve the 13th Amendment, abolishing slavery, “the sooner the better” in his Annual Message to Congress one month later.

The title of this program is taken from his Second Inaugural Address in order to emphasize Lincoln’s fervent wish that the country could be restored and united once again with “a benevolent goodwill to all.” The program concludes with a compilation of authentic premonitions Lincoln had about his own untimely death, and an excerpt from his 1861 farewell speech to well-wishers in Springfield, IL.

This program includes the following:

Excerpt, Letter to Brig. General Buell (Jan. 13, 1862)
Order assigning Lt. General Grant to Command the Armies (March 10, 1864)
“Blind Memorandum” (Aug. 23, 1864)
Excerpts, Annual Message to Congress (Dec. 6, 1864)
Excerpt, Speech at the Baltimore Sanitary Fair (April 18, 1864)
“Meditation on the Divine Will” (probably summer, 1864)
Second Inaugural Address (March 4, 1965)
Telegram to Lt. General Grant (April 7, 1865)
Excerpt, Farewell Address (Feb. 11, 1861)

Due to the nature of the host’s invitation and time constraints, the length of above program can be easily modified.