ForFor thethe PeoplePeople A N e w s l e t t e r o f t h e A b r a h a m L i n c o l n A s s o c i a t i o n Volume 3, Number 2 Summer 2001 Springfield, Illinois

Mr. Lincoln and Mrs. Partington

by Dr. James M. Cornelius * former, poke about thirty miles from the houses.” Dame Partington was there in 1831 to a crowd angry that “seen at the door of her house, with as Abraham Lincoln a rube the House of Lords had just thrown mop and pattens, trundling her mop, or a well-read man? His out a parliamentary reform bill. The squeezing out the sea-water and Wbrief meeting with one of Lord’s attempt reminded Smith of the vigourously pushing away the Atlantic England’s wealthiest and oldest aristo- great storm at Sidmouth in 1824, Ocean.” Just as she ought not have crats casts an interesting light upon when “there set in a great flood upon reissted the tempest breaking her this debate. that town—the tide rose to an incredi- steps, thought Smith, politicians The young Marquis of Harting- ble height, the waves rushed in upon continued on page 3 ton, heir to the Duke of Devonshire and representing a cotton-manufactur- ing district, held a junior post in Lord Palmerston’s Cabinet in 1861-1862. Like so many well-off Britons of his day, he felt it time to learn about the sister-nation and arranged a visit to the White House. When the privately ed- ucated, sensitive, and aloof lord was introduced to the president, the poor boy from Kentucky blurted out, “Hartington? That rhymes with Part- ington!” The nonplussed marquis may not have deserved much better treat- ment—his Southern sympathies be- came fixed soon thereafter during three months spent amongst the cot- ton planters, for he had snuck through Union lines to see the land of the aris- tocrats—but it does not seem likely that Lincoln intended an insult at the time. Who was Partington, and why did the name stand to the fore in the president’s mind? Mrs. Ruth Partington existed more in folklore than in fact, and for antebellum Americans her name was a byword of humble determination combined with a sometimes inspired mangling of the English language. She was said to be a respectable inhab- itant of a cottage on the beach in Sid- mouth, Devonshire. The bud of her “Partingtonian Philosophy” reputation blossomed when Sydney From Life and Sayings of Mrs. Partington (1854) Smith, a well-known political re- 2 For the People

President’s Column

by Donald R. Tracy

he Washington-based organiza- Fancett, of Australia, wrote the first Letter of Robyn J. Fancett tion Citizens Against Govern- letter. This letter expresses the need to ment Waste recently included preserve Lincoln not only for Ameri- Dear Sir, T I have just finished reading your can citizens but also for the entire the Lincoln Presidential Library in its Memorandum, and I’m so outraged by this Congressional Pig Book Summary for world. Nancy Hill of Tempe, Arizona, organization “Citizens against Govt. 2001. In response to my March 19 wrote the second letter. The letter il- Waste,” I just had to write you. Outraged, memo to Abraham Lincoln Associa- lustrates the importance of the Lincoln is the only word to describe how I am feel- tion members, I received copies of let- Collection at the Illinois State Histori- ing. cal Library and why such historical The Abraham Lincoln Library and ters sent to senators and representa- Museum is not a waste of Government tives from thirty-one members ex- documents should be showcased for spending. It is vital this project takes place pressing strong support for the library. future reference. The third and final and I cannot believe that these people The letters came from members in Ari- letter was written by Professor Nor- don’t understand the importance. For fu- zona, California, Georgia, Illinois, In- man Ferris of Murfreesboro, Ten- ture generations, and all people everywhere nessee. Dr. Ferris expresses his con- interested in Lincoln. diana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Abraham Lincoln was voted the most Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, cern for “the growing hunger among admired and respected United States Presi- North Carolina, New Jersey, New Americans for a connection with the dent of all time by 100 historians. For this York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, great men and women of our nation’s alone, and in Lincoln’s own words “it’s all Washington, and Wisconsin. All of past.” All of the letters exhibit our together fitting.” This must be done, to re- members’ pride in supporting a major spect him, and history. I may not be an the letters expressed the importance of American citizen, but was very much look- preserving such a critical time in governmental commitment to preserv- ing forward to revisiting the states, and United States history for the future of ing and enhancing the collective mem- being able to visit the Library/Museum our children. The letters generally ory of one of the worlds most-admired and would be very disappointed if this pro- stated their disagreement with classify- leaders. continued on page 8 ing the Lincoln Presidential Library as “pork” and suggested surprise that a wonderful project could be so labeled. Although all of the letters were well written and extremely helpful to Member News the cause, I have chosen three letters that fairly summarize the sentiments behind our collective support for the Lincoln Presidential Library. Robyn J. ondolences are extended to for- multi-volume Abraham Lincoln biog- Unless otherwise indicated, mer ALA president, Dan Ban- raphy. photographs are courtesy of the Cnister, on the death of his wife William Gienapp has completed Illinois State Historical Library, Audrey. his one-volume biography of Abraham Springfield Dr. John Daly, Director of the Illi- Lincoln. nois State Archives, suffered a massive Harold Holzer has been named For the People (ISSN 1527-2710) is heart attack and is at Memorial Medi- Vice President for Communications published four times a year and is a cal Center, Springfield, Illinois. and Marketing for the Metropolitan benefit of membership of the Phillip Shaw Paludan was named Museum of Art. Abraham Lincoln Association the Naomi Lynn Lincoln Chair in His- Richard Norton Smith will be the 1 Old State Capitol Plaza tory at the University of Illinois at curator of a major Lincoln exhibition Springfield, Illinois Springfield. He will assume this new for the twentieth anniversary of the 62701 prestigious position beginning in au- opening of the Gerald R. Ford Mu- tumn 2001. seum in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Newsletter design and layout Michael Burlingame has retired Matthew Pinsker has completed a by William B. Tubbs from Connecticut College and relo- manuscript on Abraham Lincoln and [email protected] cated to Washington, D.C. to continue Anderson Cottage for the National work on volumes three and four of his Trust for Historic Preservation. For the People 3

THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN ASSOCIATION Mr. Lincoln and Mrs. Partington DONALD R. TRACY President MOLLY BECKER continued from page 1 the English language is proverbial.” RICHARD E. HART ought not try to resist the tempest of But it was her hardheadedness in the RICHARD MILLS Vice-Presidents public opinion. face of an uncooperative human nature Enter Benjamin Penhallow Shill- that must have appealed to some of THOMAS F. S CHWARTZ Secretary aber (1814-1890), who came to be her fans, too. In Lincoln’s case, it is JUDITH BARRINGER one of the best-known humorists in easy to see why such a character would Treasurer nineteenth-century America. A hum- stick in his mind, even when he was DAN W. B ANNISTER ble newspaperman, he picked up this about to hold a discussion on the cot- Immediate Past-President character and began to write squibs ton embargo with an Englishman (a Board of Directors about her in the Boston Post in 1847. word-mangler such as Mrs. Malaprop, R-Lou Barker In one, she cared not “whether flour who graced a 1775 play by Sheridan, Roger D. Bridges Michael Burlingame was dear or cheap, she invariably had was a provincial lady of fashion and Sheldon S. Cohen to pay the same money for a half-dol- airs—the kind Mary Todd might have John Daly lar’s worth.” She became well known, encountered). Mrs. Partington seems Brooks Davis Rodney O. Davis and Shillaber went on to edit the hu- the spawn of the Work Ethic Belt, Robert S. Eckley morous weekly the Carpet-Bag in where fighting back the elements and Donald H. Funk 1851-1853 (whose contributors in- getting by on seasonal allotments of Allen C. Guelzo Edith Lee Harris cluded one S. L. Clemens). Life and food was second nature to the hardy Kathryn Harris Sayings of Mrs. Partington appeared in folk. Were Shillaber’s columns run in Norman D. Hellmers 1854 and sold quickly and well. The the Springfield newspapers that Lin- Earl W. Henderson, Jr. Fred B. Hoffmann illustrations in this and later collections coln was often seen reading? Barbara Hughett invariably show humble homes where Whether aspiring lawyer and Robert W. Johannsen willful young boys scampered un- politician Lincoln actually read Shill- Lewis E. Lehrman Susan Mogerman checked. In one tale, Mrs. Partington aber’s squibs is probably less impor- Georgia Northrup misunderstands a remark by her minis- tant than knowing that Mrs. Parting- Phillip S. Paludan ter about our sins, and replies, “I con- ton’s name was common coin to peo- James W. Patton III Mark Plummer sider washing-powder as a great bless- ple with an ear for the language and a Gerald Prokopowicz ing to mothers.” Indeed, her unman- heart for the daily struggle, as Lincoln James A. Rawley ageable nephew Ike Partington had ap- undoubtedly was. Whether the Mar- Brooks D. Simpson Robert A. Stuart, Jr. peared in a column in 1848, a literary quis of Hartington had heard of her Louise Taper foil to the kinds of boys normally seems rather less likely—at least not John T. Trutter found in the didactic children’s books until he was introduced to her by the Andy VanMeter Margaret VanMeter of the day. Tad Lincoln, later known natural aristocrat in the White House. Daniel R. Weinberg for ransacking the White House, was Robert Willard cut in Ike’s mold. * James M. Cornelius is on con- Douglas L. Wilson Kenneth J. Winkle According to Harper’s Weekly in tract with the Illinois Historic Preser- Honorary Directors 1871, Mrs. Partington’s “treatment of vation Agency. Governor George H. Ryan Senator Richard Durbin Senator Peter Fitzgerald Congressman Ray LaHood Save the Date! Congressman John Shimkus Mayor Karen Hasara The Honorable Rita Garman The following events should be of interest to many of our members: Emeritus Directors Willard Bunn, Jr. John R. Chapin September 15 — Lincoln Colloquium, Springfield, Illinois Cullom Davis Irving Dilliard October 4-5 — Third Annual Conference on Illinois History, Springfield, Illinois James Myers Sally Schanbacher Distinguished Directors November 10 — Gerald Prokopowicz, Ralph G. Newman Lecture at Lincoln Col- Mario M. Cuomo lege, Lincoln, Illinois David Herbert Donald John Hope Franklin Garry Wills November 14 or 15 — Michael Burlingame, Annual ALA Membership Dinner, Bloomington, Illinois 4 For the People

The Farewell Address—Was It an Afterthought?

by Allen C. Guelzo * In 1916, however, as Jesse W. [Lucian] Tilton who was the Supt. of Weik, William Herndon’s longtime as- the [Great Western] railroad and ne of Abraham Lincoln’s most sociate in Lincoln research, was assem- aboard the train ordered it stopped moving utterances was the bling materials for the book that and it backed to the spot where the Oshort speech of farewell that would eventually become The Real crowd was still standing. There Mr. he gave to his Springfield neighbors on the morning of February 11, 1861, as he stood on the rear platform of the special Great Western Railroad passen- ger train that would take him to Wash- ington and his inauguration as the six- teenth president. There are many ac- counts of his final, eloquent leave-tak- ing by Lincoln, beginning with the newspaper versions written by Henry Villard for the Associated Press (and the New York Tribune), Henry M. Smith of the Chicago Tribune, and Ed- ward L. Baker, the editor of Spring- field’s Illinois State Journal. William Herndon and Ward Hill Lamon both left personal remembrances of the de- parture in books written years later. At least one private letter, describing Lin- coln’s delivery of the speech in simple but moving detail, survives from James Cook Conkling to his son, Clin- ton L. Conkling, and was published in 1944 by Harry Pratt in Concerning Mr. Lincoln.

One of the few photographs showing Springfield’s Great Western Railroad Depot as it appeared at the time of Lincoln’s Farewell Address—as a one-story building.

Lincoln (1922), Weik came across the Lincoln made the speech.” This sug- trail of another eyewitness account of gested to Weik that either (a) the cele- the farewell that promised to add still brated farewell speech might have more detail to descriptions of the been conceived by Lincoln as an af- speech. On November 26, 1916, terthought, and Lincoln asked for the Weik wrote to Clinton L. Conkling in train to be stopped in order to make a Springfield, asking whether he could last off-the-cuff comment to his confirm one peculiar detail: that the friends, or (b) that Lincoln had pre- farewell speech had almost never been pared a speech, but had not informed given at all, because the train began Lucian Tilton, or failed to remind him pulling out before Lincoln could at the right moment, so that the speak, and had to be called back into speech might have never been deliv- the station for the speech to take place. ered at all if Tilton had not at the last “The train with Mr. Lincoln aboard moment reversed the train back into had started and gone a hundred or, the station for Lincoln to speak. Jesse W. Weik possibly, two hundred feet when Mr. Weik asked Conkling to contact a For the People 5

Springfield businessman whom Isaac It was a chilly morning and a drizzling rain the Great Western passenger depot, R. Diller had described to him as “a was falling. I was there some minutes, and cross to the north side of Monroe man who heard Lincoln deliver his perhaps ten minutes, before Mr. Lincoln Street to gather around the rear of the spoke. He came out on to the rear plat- farewell address at the depot. . . . I can- form about ten feet from the side walk and train as it lay on the stub side track not remember the mans name but he is talked to the crowd, which numbered per- (which did not extend across Monroe in the hardware business. I believe his haps between one and two hundred. There Street). Conkling drew a map of the name is German and begins with were not very many. I heard his address train lines in Tenth Street from Weik, Zum-.” That was more than enough from beginning to end. After he had fin- noting each landmark and their rela- ished, the train moved north on the stub information for Conkling to trace side track and thence on to the main track tive distances. The drawing conforms down Louise H. Zumbrook, a Spring- and then disappeared without stopping. substantially to a more contemporane- field hardware dealer. Conkling not Before Mr. Lincoln commenced to talk I ous illustration, Augustus Koch’s only had two interviews with Zum- was talking with people in the crowd and I Bird’s Eye View of Springfield Illinois brook, but also drew a map of the rail- was told by them that the train was first on (1872), which clearly shows the Tenth the main track, but that they had switched road depot to make clearer the exact it on to the stub side track so he could Street passenger depot, plus three lines location of the events Zumbrook de- speak to the people as they stood on Mon- of track in Tenth Street and a stub scribed. The Zumbrook account is roe Street, and without their standing on spur, used for passenger boarding. concerned not with the speech, but the main track, because some thought it Weik evidently had hoped for with recreating in vivid detail the se- would be safer. I did not see the train go something a little more dramatic—the up the main track and then come back. quence of events surrounding it, the When I first saw it, it was standing on the almost-undelivered farewell, the train location of the Great Western railroad stub side track. that had to be backed up at the last station, and the positioning of the moment so that Lincoln could become train on a “stub” siding so that Lincoln eloquent—than Zumbrook’s prosaic could be close to the people in the sta- account of a train backed onto a siding tion when speaking. simply to avoid a railroad accident in a busy street. Possibly for that reason, I am seventy-six years of age [Zum- brook told Clinton Conkling on December poor Zumbrook never made it into 5, 1916]. I came to Springfield, Illinois in Weik’s account of the departure from 1853. In February 1861 I was working for Springfield in the final pages of The Dr. William Jayne. One evening during Real Lincoln. But the Zumbrook ac- the month he said to me, “Louie, if you go count does perform an important little down to the Great Western Depot tomor- row morning you can see Mr. Lincoln leave service for us in pinning down exactly for Washington.” The next morning I where and how Lincoln’s most affec- went to the Great Western Passenger tionate public speech was delivered. Depot, which was then situated on the southwest corner of Tenth and Monroe Streets. The north end fronted on Monroe *Allen C. Guelzo is a professor of Street and the side on Tenth Street, and American history at Eastern College in was used as a Passenger Depot and the St. Davids, Pennsylvania. The corre- south end as a Freight Depot. The whole spondence between Weik and Con- of it is now used, with some changes, as a kling is in the James C. and Clinton L. Freight Depot of the Wabash Railroad. At that time the main track of the Great West- Conkling Papers at the Illinois State ern Road ran north and south through Historical Library, Springfield, Illi- Tenth Street as it does now. There were nois. The standard work on the Lin- some side tracks south of the Depot. The coln inaugural train is Victor Searcher, office and lumber yard of George L. Hunt- Lincoln’s Journey to Greatness: A Factual ington was at the time on the northwest Clinton L. Conkling corner of the two streets. On the east side Account of the Twelve-Day Inaugural of Huntington’s Lumber yard and between Trip (1960). James C. Conkling’s let- it and the main track there was a stub side Zumbrook’s account made it clear ter to his son is in Concerning Mr. Lin- track which came in from the north and to Weik that Lucian Tilton’s jockeying coln, In Which Abraham Lincoln is Pic- ran south along the west side of the main of the train from the main track to the tured as he Appeared to Letter Writers of track and along the east side of the lumber yard until it came to a stop about ten feet stub side track was not an af- his Time (1944). The Zumbrook ac- north of the north line of Monroe Street. terthought, but a safety precaution, so count contradicts Ward Hill Lamon’s This stud side track did not at that time that the crowd could hear Lincoln description of the sequence of events cross the street. speak from the rear platform without at the farewell (in Recollections of Abra- I got there between six and seven o’- standing in the way of other possible ham Lincoln, 1911), since Lamon has clock in the morning. When I got there, the train on which Mr. Lincoln left was traffic on the main track in Tenth Lincoln reach the train through the standing on the stub side track just north Street. This did, however, require that crowd, turn on the rear platform, and of Monroe Street. The party was on board. the sparse crowd leave the shelter of then deliver his farewell. 6 For the People

Lincoln on the Electoral College

by Thomas F. Schwartz early advocate arguing for the elimina- the presidency. tion of the Electoral College. Even Andrew Jackson quickly de- he recent presidential election though he received the greatest total nounced the “corrupt bargain” be- introduced the American public popular vote among a field of four tween Adams and Clay, denying the Tto the butterfly ballot and varia- presidential candidates, he did not re- Hero of New Orleans the presidency. tions on the chad—the small, perfo- ceive the necessary electoral vote. The Jackson insisted that the election was rated rectangles comprising the punch election was thrown into the House of stolen from him and argued that the ballot. Although then Vice President Representatives where Henry Clay in- Electoral College needed to be abol- Albert Gore received the greatest total structed his supporters to back the ished to prevent future elections from number of popular votes across the candidacy of John Quincy Adams. being decided by “corrupt bargains.” country, Americans were reminded With Clay’s backers, Adams won the He had allies in Congress introduce that presidents are not elected directly election. The son of President John legislation proposing to change the by the people. Rather, the Electoral Adams, John Quincy Adams immedi- Constitution to elect the president by College indirectly elects United States ately named Henry Clay his secretary direct popular vote. The legislation Presidents. Andrew Jackson was an of state, seen as the stepping stone to never advanced beyond committee. Jackson, however, easily beat John Quincy Adams in the following 1828 presidential contest. Books for the Beach Much has been made of Lincoln’s staunch Whig beliefs. It is therefore surprising to discover that Lincoln did not always support the Electoral Col- f you have not decided on which offers a long-overdue examination of lege, an institution that comported books to take with you to your va- the passage of the Thirteenth Amend- with Whig political theory. In a letter Ication destination, several sugges- ment. to Josephus Hewett, a former Spring- tions are being offered. Treatment of Lincoln’s DNA com- field lawyer, Lincoln expressed the fol- Kenneth J. Winkle has written prises but a portion of Philip Reilly’s lowing views on the Electoral College: about Lincoln’s early years using quan- book. It will also be of interest to “I was once of your opinion, expressed titative data and recent findings from those who did not excel in science. in your letter, that presidential electors social history. It is not Lincoln “by the And what would the summer be should be dispensed with; but a more numbers,” but an engaging narrative. without a good murder mystery? thorough knowledge of the causes that Based upon his Harvard disserta- Please make all checks out to first introduced them, has made me tion, which was directed by David “IHPA.” Illinois residents must add doubt. Those causes were briefly Herbert Donald, Michael Vorenberg sales tax to their totals. these. The convention that framed the constitution has this difficulty: the Kenneth J. Winkle, The Young Eagle: The Rise of Abraham Lincoln small states wished to so frame the Retail: $28.95 ALA: $21.50 IL Sales Tax: $1.56 new government as that they might be equal to the large ones regardless of Michael Vorenberg, Final Freedom: The Civil War, the Abolition of Slavery, and the the inequality of population; the large Thirteenth Amendment ones insisted on equality in proportion Retail: $29.95 ALA: $24.50 IL Sales Tax: $1.78 to population. They compromised it, by basing the House of Representa- Philip R. Reilly, Abraham Lincoln’s DNA and Other Adventures in Genetics tives on population, and the Senate on Retail: $25.00 ALA: $20.00 IL Sales Tax: $1.45 states regardless of population; and the executive on both principles, by elec- Elliott Roosevelt, Murder in the Lincoln Bedroom: An Eleanor Roosevelt Mystery tors in each state, equal in numbers to Retail: $22.95 ALA: $17.95 IL Sales Tax: $1.30 her senators and representatives. Now, throw away the machinery of Shipping fees: $17.95 to $50, add $7.00 electors, and the compromise is bro- $50.01 to $75, add $8.00 ken up, and the whole yielded to the $75.01 to $100, add $11.00 principle of the large states.” For the People 7

Federal Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission Established

he Abraham Lincoln Bicenten- mission is comprised of two members Phelps and Louise Taper; two mem- nial Commission has been es- selected by the president of the United bers selected by the Senate minority Ttablished with an initial con- States: Professor James O. Horton and leader: the Honorable Richard Durbin gressional appropriation of $461,000. Mr. Harold Holzer; three members se- and Dr. Jean T. D. Bandler; and one The purpose of the commission is to lected by the Speaker of the House: member each selected by the gover- plan for the two-hundredth anniver- the Honorable Ray LaHood, Ms. Joan nors of Illinois, Indiana, and Ken- sary of Lincoln’s birth on February 12, Flinspach, and Illinois First Lady Lura tucky: the Honorable James R. 2009. Among the statutory require- Lynn Ryan; three members selected by Thompson, Darrel E. Bigham, and ments, the commission is responsible the Senate majority leader: the Honor- Judge Tommy Turner. Eight of the fif- for the design of a coin, a stamp, and a able Jim Bunning, Professor Gabor teen commission members are mem- joint session of Congress. This lan- Boritt, and Judge Frank Williams; two bers of the Abraham Lincoln Associa- guage mirrors that of the sesquicen- members selected by the House mi- tion. Congratulations and good luck tennial celebration in 1959. The com- nority leader: the Honorable David to all of the commission members.

A MEDITATION UPON WATCHING GEORGE RYAN BREAKING GROUND FOR THE LINCOLN LIBRARY by Dr. R. S. Bradley

THE COLD, THE COLD, COLD, COLD SUN, WHEN THE SPADE INTO THE EARTH, MY LOVE LIES IN THE GRAVE WAVE AFTER WAVE OF GEESE FLEW O’ER; IN THE COLD, COLD, SUN OLD GLORY SNAPPED A SMART SALUTE IN THE COLD, COLD, SUN BY NIGHT HE WILL NOT COME, NO JOY NOR MILLING CROWD; LINCOLN, LINCOLN, FALLEN COMMANDER, MY LOVE LIES IN THE GROUND WHOSE SPIRIT RIDES, WHOSE SPIRIT RIDES, IN THE COLD, COLD, SUN IN THE COLD, COLD, SUN

APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

Please enroll me as a member of the Mail this application (or a photo- Abraham Lincoln Association in the copy) and a check to: category indicated: The Abraham Lincoln Association 1 Old State Capitol Plaza _____ Railsplitter ...... $ 25 Springfield, Illinois _____ Postmaster ...... $ 75 62701 _____ Lawyer ...... $ 200 Name______Congressman ...... $ 500 Street ______Presidential ...... $ 1,000 City ______Web site: www.alincolnassoc.com State ______Members residing outside the U.S add $3.00 Zip ______8 For the People

President’s Column

continued from page 2 Lincoln would have to be the President I for constructing a Presidential Library and ject fails. It would be almost a crime not admire most, and the most deserving of his Museum to honor Abraham Lincoln and to build this Library/Museum for such a own Library/Museum. preserve a priceless collection of Lincoln deserving figure of American history. artifacts in Springfield, Illinois. I don’t know whether someone like a Letter of Nancy Hill Surely, if recent chief executives like past President, George W. Bush for exam- Dear Senator McCain: Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Jimmy ple, with his own Library and Museum, During the summer of 1998, I used Carter were deserving of such support, the could help in any way possible, being ac- archival items from the Lincoln Collection first and greatest of all Republican Presi- cording to my history book, seventh at the Illinois State Historical Library in dents, Abraham Lincoln, deserves com- cousin, four times removed of Abraham my Master’s thesis research. I was a great mensurate backing from the Congress. Lincoln himself, may be able to do some- privilege to use those materials, and I hope As a retired professor of history, I am thing to make this organization rethink its that future researchers will be able to do aware of the growing hunger among stance on this subject. This organization the same. An Abraham Lincoln Presiden- Americans for a connection with the great may take notice of a past President, I think tial Library and Museum will provide men and women of our nation’s past. This anything is worth trying in this situation. proper storage and care for that priceless is especially true of the increasing interest I know the Smithsonian has a Presi- part of our national heritage, and will en- in Lincoln and his legacy, as is evident from dential section in its museum, but it is not able many more people to benefit from it. the constant stream of popular books, tele- only on Lincoln, a little corner tucked away Ask several persons to name the two vision dramas and articles devoted to the somewhere is just not enough for such a or three greatest presidents in American sixteenth president and to the American great man. Lesser President’s have Li- history. I assure you that each one will Civil War. brary/Museums, i.e. Nixon, Johnson, name Abraham Lincoln. Ask those same To call federal appropriations for this Kennedy, and this great American Presi- citizens if they believe that funding for the project “pork” is to spit on spending for dent is considered not respected and ad- Lincoln Library is “pork,” and you will be the Smithsonian Institution, the Gettys- mired enough by Americans, and people reminded that the American people recog- burg National Cemetery, Independence like myself, to deserve a Library/Museum nize the difference between wasteful Hall, and many other historical sites, of his own. It’s disgraceful of these people spending and meaningful investment. memorials and repositories of learning that to label the Lincoln Library this way. I just I respectfully urge you to support have contributed so much to the preserva- hope someone comes up with a brilliant funding for the Abraham Lincoln Presi- tion and enhancement of our civilization. idea, to change the current opinion, and dential Library and Museum. Please help The proposed $10 million dollar ap- that the Library and Museum, will go to ensure its future as an important part of propriation for the Lincoln Library and ahead. the education infrastructure of our nation. Museum has already been fully considered I hope to receive some good news and approved by all the appropriate com- from you on this subject in the very near Letter of Norman Ferris mittees and subcommittees of both the future. Unfortunately, I cannot write to a Senate and the House of Representatives. congressman or woman as I am not an Dear Senator Thompson, I earnestly hope that you will give strong American citizen, but I do admire and re- I am writing to express my fervent support as part of the administration’s spect the office of President and Abraham support for the allocation of federal funds forthcoming budget.

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