Lincoln: Man Vs. Myth

(CBS)  So, you think you know Abraham Lincoln's story?

On the day he would have been 200 years old, historians are revisiting many commonly held beliefs about the nation's 16th president.

As co-anchor Maggie Rodriguez chronicled on The Early Show Thursday, what you think you know for sure about Lincoln may be off-base.

"Fact" No. 1: His Motive Behind The Civil War" Was To Free The Slaves

"So many people believe now that Lincoln actually took action to end slavery," New York University Professor of History Jeffrey Sammons told CBS News. "Really, his action was to restore the union. If he had to free none of the slaves to achieve that objective, he would."

"Fact" No. 2: He Was Great Champion Of Equality

"Lincoln is known as 'The Great Emancipator,' or the great father of black people," Sammons says. "But Lincoln was a man of his times when it came to race. He indicated that he did not believe that blacks were equal to whites, and is said to have used the "N" word in speeches and in letters. So, there's no indication that Abraham Lincoln believes in black equality."

"Fact" No. 3: Assassination Was Booth's First Choice

"What many people don't realize," Sammons explained, "is that, at first, John Wilkes Booth did not act alone. The first plan was to actually kidnap Abraham Lincoln, take him south, and hold him for ransom."

But when others deemed the plan unrealistic, Booth went forward with a different plan, shooting and killing the president.

"Fact" No. 4: His State Of Mind

Was Lincoln depressed? He was revered as the strong, dominant wartime president, but historians generally agree he suffered from clinical depression. And his own law partner said melancholy dripped from him as he walked.

"Fact" No. 5: He Was Straight

"One of the very interesting stories about Abraham Lincoln," Sammons points out, "is that he might have been gay. Lincoln actually did sleep in the same bed with a gentleman for a four-year period."

But, says Rodriguez, one thing remains constant: Lincoln certainly has to go down in history as one of the nation's great presidents.

[rosieodminge]

In defense of Lincoln...If he didn''''t free the slaves..
Who did?


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by wlmrtpatriot





Eli Whitney;0)

Kind-of like the tractor making the mule obsolete. The price to keep and care for a human is expensive. Another example is why people dont ride horses to work, costs alot to keep. Blacks were basically live-stock, and when the cotton gin was built, they became obsolete farm machinery. Since then they have struggled to find their place in America.

[gosukabug]

I think even more of lincoln now than I did before reading this article. His only mistake was not returning the slaves to their countries of origin.

[stupidrules3]

Lincoln only freed the slaves in the states which were not a part of the United States. They had dissolved their ties with the United States. He spun this deal to the max. The whole Emancipation Proclamation was spin.

[stupidrules3]

And by virtue of the power, and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free; and that the Executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons.

[stupidrules3]

Now, therefore I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested as Commander-in-Chief, of the Army and Navy of the United States in time of actual armed rebellion against the authority and government of the United States, and as a fit and necessary war measure for suppressing said rebellion, do, on this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and in accordance with my purpose so to do publicly proclaimed for the full period of one hundred days, from the day first above mentioned, order and designate as the States and parts of States wherein the people thereof respectively, are this day in rebellion against the United States, the following, to wit:


Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, (except the Parishes of St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Jefferson, St. John, St. Charles, St. James Ascension, Assumption, Terrebonne, Lafourche, St. Mary, St. Martin, and Orleans, including the City of New Orleans) Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia, (except the forty-eight counties designated as West Virginia, and also the counties of Berkley, Accomac, Northampton, Elizabeth City, York, Princess Ann, and Norfolk, including the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth[)], and which excepted parts, are for the present, left precisely as if this proclamation were not issued.

[stupidrules3]

One point that all should remember. The winners always write the history books.

[wlmrtpatriot]

In defense of Lincoln...If he didn''t free the slaves..
Who did?

[carpbench]

I sure hope you never commemorate my birthday. To have a special birthday commemoration for a great person and then have such derogatory things to say about him, instead of mentioning all of the good things about him, is not just horrible but makes you look really small and petty. I was really disappointed with all involved. Plus it was pointless unless all you wanted to do was to sully someone''s name and make people think less of him.

[classicdoc]

"Fact" #6 -- Lincoln was a great president. The war he prosecuted against the South killed fully 2% of the entire population of the country at the time. His dictatorial actions and violations of the Bill of Rights in the North paved the way for the imperial pretensions of future presidents.

[sabre1111]

A suggestion such as that in your article without any discussion of the customs of the era is irresponsible tabloid journalism.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by syrah7

You are right, but there is other evidence that historians have been studying. Its not conclusive, but it is suggestive.