Lincoln at 200
President still inspires, intrigues
Javi Hansen
Issue date: 11/24/09 Section: News
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The lecture was delivered by Professor Gerald S. Henig, a professor emeritus of California State University East Bay and a current history professor at Saint Mary's College. Henig's specialty is Civil War history and he has written multiple books about the bloody conflict. Brother Charles Hilken, chair of the history department introduced Professor Henig.
Henig said that it's important that people know about Lincoln today because "he demonstrates that leadership demands a first rate intellect, a command of the language, and a willingness to work with friends and enemies."
He began the lecture by describing how a foreigner unfamiliar with the president would like to know how Lincoln, who had no executive or military experience, became one of nation's greatest presidents. When Lincoln took his oath of office in 1861, his future Secretary of State William Seward said he was "simply not equipped to hold the highest office in the land."
Seward was not the only one to criticize him; Lincoln withstood mockery well into his first few years as president.
In contemporary terms, Lincoln would have been referred to as a "chronic workaholic." Plagued with depression and despair his entire life, Lincoln also lost his first love Ann Rutledge to typhoid fever and one of his sons to tuberculosis.
He suffered from what modern mental health professionals would characterize as clinical depression. Yet despite this hardship, Lincoln still had to deal with other matters, such as how to get the Confederacy under control.
When Lincoln came into office, he saw the necessity of dealing harshly with enemies, especially after the First Battle of Bull Run. Henig recalled how Lincoln had to go through many generals to command the Union's Army of the Potomac, until he finally chose Ulysses S. Grant to finish the war.