Louis Masur, Board of Governors Distinguished Professor of American Studies and History at Rutgers University, spoke to Abraham Lincoln’s leadership and legacy at the last Monadnock Summer Lyceum event of the year on Sunday.
“I love Abraham Lincoln. I literally love him. And by the time we’re done this morning, I hope to persuade you to love him as well,” Masur promised the crowd.
Following his life chronologically, Masur set the scene for Lincoln’s unique leadership style as a coping mechanism for his depression and homely features.
“Laughter was an antidote to all that sadness that filled him,” Masur said.
Laughter and storytelling, according to Masur.
On top of those struggles, Lincoln came from an uneducated household and taught himself.
“Education to him was everything, and it’s one of the great stories of American history: upward mobility through education,” Masur said.
While sharing different anecdotes and stories from Lincoln himself, Masur demonstrated the humor and cunning in the 16th president’s thinking.
Once, when questioned by a visitor to the president why Lincoln was constantly interrupting and telling useless stories, the secretary responded, “The most necessary object in the world at the time, to get rid of you and get on with his business.”
As Masur delved into the history of the abolition of slavery, he explained, “[Lincoln’s] greatness is that he was evolutionary, not revolutionary.”
From the beginning, Lincoln was staunchly anti-slavery but held moderate views on how to abolish it. Masur explained that the greatness of Lincoln’s leadership was his ability to change his mind over time, admit he was wrong, and stick to his word.
The Emancipation Proclamation is proof of Lincoln’s growth as a leader.
“Little known or appreciated is that the Emancipation Proclamation also authorizes the enlistment of Black soldiers,” Masur said. This addition, originally opposed by Lincoln, shows his ability to listen to others and shape the lives of Black Americans after they were freed.
During the discussion, Masur explained, “The war began as a war to preserve the union. The war becomes, the verb is important, a war to abolish slavery. But for Lincoln, it was always a war to protect and preserve democracy.”
This outlook motivated Lincoln to accept the former Confederates as American citizens once the war was over in an effort to preserve the democracy he promised to protect.
To view the full discussion, go to the Monadnock Summer Lyceum website at monadnocklyceum.org/speaker/louis-p-masur.