92 Quotes by Harold Holzer

Not everyone was laughing. Ascribing “incapacity, stupidity, imbecility, gross ignorance and habitual venality” to the stalemated Congress, the New York Herald angrily concluded that “no remedy whatever is to be looked for from their representatives.” Sounding eerily like President Buchanan in his December annual message, it blamed not Southern extremism but “republican fanaticism” for the current “avalanche of destruction.

Henry Villard took sarcastic note of the sudden “adornment of whiskers” on November 19. “His old friends, who have been used to a great indifference as to the ‘outer man,’ on his part,” the journalist punned, “say that ‘Abe is putting on airs.

New York Times founder Henry Raymond started his newspaper, “with the goal of reforming government, not belittling it.

Indeed, in 1794, George Washington had not only authorized sending national troops into battle against Pennsylvanians resisting the whiskey tax, he had taken to the field to lead the forces himself. Later, Andrew Jackson had acted boldly to crush South Carolina’s attempt to nullify the 1832 tariff.

Samuel FB Morse’s SECOND question over the telegraph was, “Have you any news?

The letter is too belligerent. If I were you, I would state the facts as they were, without the pepper and salt. Abraham Lincoln.

After he “urged his way” to the voting table, Lincoln followed ritual by formally identifying himself in a subdued tone: “Abraham Lincoln.”91 Then he “deposited the straight Republican ticket” after first cutting his own name, and those of the electors pledged to him, from the top of his preprinted ballot so he could vote for other Republicans without immodestly voting for himself.

His secretary heard Lincoln authoritatively remind a caller on November 15 that “this government possesses both the authority and the power to maintain its own integrity.” Here was Jacksonian firmness to spare. “That, however, is not the ugly point of this matter,” Lincoln added grimly. “The ugly point is the necessity of keeping the government by force, as ours ought to be a government of fraternity.

On the subject of “personal beauty,” for example, Lincoln merrily confided he felt fortunate that “‘the women couldn’t vote,’ otherwise the monstrous portraits of him which had been circulated during the canvas by friends as well as by foes would surely defeat him.