During one of Abraham Lincoln’s many political confrontations his opponent condemned him for being dishonest–being “two-faced.” Lincoln is said to have replied, “I ask you ladies and gentlemen, if I had two faces, would I have worn this one?”
Lincoln considered himself ugly and his gaunt features were fertile ground for the cartoonists of the day. Since his death and martyrdom, the 16th president’s features have been used to sell cars, watches, orange juice, movies, bookends, or any of the ten thousand products that have graced the shelves of American retailers since Lincoln’s death. But more than Lincoln’s physical features remain to remind us of this remarkable man. In fact Lincoln is not immune from the historical perception that distorts our view of all events or people in the past. His place in American history teeters on the spindly legs of idolatry, Deity, and mythology. Too bad, he seemed like such a nice guy.
In developing the exhibit “Lincoln in Memory: The 16th President in Personal and Cultural Recollection,” I had the opportunity to search through the remarkable collection of Lincoln images at the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum at Lincoln Memorial University. Since I’m an employee of the museum, you’d expect me to be biased. I am, but let’s put that aside for now.
What amazes me is how each generation co-ops Lincoln’s image and his words for their need. War, particularly, brings out the need to quote Lincoln. It is not difficult to find an appropriate Lincoln phrase. “This nation cannot exits, half slave and half free,” “we highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain,” or “the last full measure,” are succinct and compelling, whether applied to the threatening specter of Communism, or to avenge those who died at Pearl Harbor. Lincoln’s words have lost none of their power nor their ability to convey exactly what Lincoln intended. They may be plucked out of context and used as propaganda, but this is done because the words, as is the force of Lincoln’s personality has not lost its power.
Hollywood recognized Lincoln’s impact as morality play, and his place in American heritage almost immediately. His role in Birth of A Nation (1915 D.W. Griffith) may be one of first celluloid ventures in which Honest Abe, the Rail Splitter, or Old Abe appeared. He has been portrayed by Gregory Peck, Walter Huston, Henry Fonda, Raymond Massey, Sam Elliot, and a number of lessor-know actors. Counter cards, movie posters, publicity photographs, and ad books generally present “Abraham Lincoln” in a compassionate or thoughtful pose so as to maintain the traditional view of Lincoln. Hollywood knows how to market America’s heroes.
When we developed the exhibit (much of work was done by students or volunteers) we included quotations from Lincoln’s contemporaries. Mary Todd Lincoln, William Herndon, Leonard Swett, David Davis, and others comment the 16th president. These words provide a very down-to-earth view of Lincoln. He was human, not universally loved or respected, and could be distracted–his mind absorbed in the intricacies of problem solving.
To be trite, a picture is really worth a thousand words, but only if you take the time to examine the picture in the context of its creation and subject. Lincoln has a common face, and he would be the first to celebrate that notion. There was nothing common about the mind hidden behind that visage, but too often it is taken (if you will allow me) at face value.
Will the real Abraham Lincoln please stand up?
