Authors: Doris Kearns Goodwin
Lincoln had lost the election: AL, “Communication to the People of Sangamo County,” March 9, 1832, in
CW,
I, p. 5n.
“made friends everywhere he went”: “Conversation with Hon. J. T. Stuart June 23 1875,” quoted in John G. Nicolay,
An Oral History of Abraham Lincoln: John G. Nicolay’s Interviews and Essays,
ed. Michael Burlingame (Carbondale and Edwardsville: Southern Illinois University Press, 1996), p. 10.
“This was the only time…of the people”: AL, “Scripps autobiography,” in
CW,
IV, p. 64.
Two years later…in the state legislature: Thomas,
Abraham Lincoln,
p. 41.
frontier county…“consuming the whole afternoon”: Robert L. Wilson to WHH, February 10, 1866, in
HI,
pp. 201–02.
At Mr. Kyle’s store…“one Could throw it”: Andrew S. Kirk interview, March 7, 1887, in ibid., pp. 602–03.
“They came there…social club”: Speed,
Reminiscences of Abraham Lincoln,
p. 23.
Lincoln proved…grassroots politician: Thomas,
Abraham Lincoln,
pp. 58, 63, 79.
three levels of command…“day as possible”: “Lincoln’s Plan of Campaign in 1840” [c. January 1840], in
CW,
I, p. 180.
“Our intention…which we are engaged”: “Campaign Circular from Whig Committee,” January [31?], 1840, in ibid., pp. 201–03. See also “Lincoln’s Plan of Campaign in 1840” [c. January 1840], in ibid., pp. 180–81.
Lincoln likened…internal improvements: James A. Herndon to WHH, May 29, 1865, in
HI,
p. 16.
Lincoln had actually…“wider and fairer”: Carpenter,
Six Months at the White House,
pp. 97–98 (quote p. 97).
“to the ideal…rise in life”: G. S. Boritt,
Lincoln and the Economics of the American Dream
(Memphis, Tenn.: Memphis State University Press, 1978), p. ix.
“an unfettered start…pursuit for all”: AL, “Message to Congress in Special Session,” July 4, 1861, in
CW,
IV, p. 438.
“DeWitt Clinton of Illinois”: Herndon and Weik,
Herndon’s Life of Lincoln,
p. 140.
“we highly disapprove…of the citizens”: Resolutions by the General Assembly of the State of Illinois, quoted in note 2 of “Protest in Illinois Legislature on Slavery,” March 3, 1837, in
CW,
I, p. 75.
he issued a formal protest…“people of said District”: “Protest in Illinois Legislature on Slavery,” March 3, 1837, in ibid., p. 75. Daniel Stone of Springfield co-authored the protest with Lincoln.
“if slavery…so think, and feel”: AL to Albert G. Hodges, April 4, 1864, draft copy, Lincoln Papers.
“partly on account…that it is now”: AL, “Scripps autobiography,” in
CW,
IV, pp. 61, 65.
In these early years…gradually become extinct: For an example of Lincoln stating that he believed slavery would gradually become extinct, see AL, “Speech at Greenville, Illinois,” September 13, 1858, in
CW,
III, p. 96.
Lincoln defended both slaveowners and fugitive slaves: Donald,
Lincoln,
p. 104.
the constitutional requirements…could not be evaded: Burlingame,
The Inner World of Abraham Lincoln,
p. 28.
a sustained recession…sentiment turned: Donald,
Lincoln,
pp. 61–62; Boritt,
Lincoln and the Economics of the American Dream,
p. 28.
“stopping a skift…go down”: AL, “Remarks in the Illinois Legislature Concerning the Illinois and Michigan Canal,” January 22, 23, 1840, in
CW,
I, p. 196.
“If you make…the tighter”: AL to Joshua F. Speed, February 25, 1842, in ibid., p. 280 (quote); Boritt,
Lincoln and the Economics of the American Dream,
p. 30.
was forced to liquidate…deterred from emigrating:
King, Lincoln’s Manager,
p. 40.
to win a fourth term…term was completed: Thomas,
Abraham Lincoln,
p. 77; entry for August 3, 1840,
Lincoln Day by Day: A Chronology, 1809–1865.
Vol. I, ed. Earl Schenck Miers (Washington, D.C.: Lincoln Sesquicentennial Commission, 1960; Dayton, Ohio: Morningside, 1991), p. 142.
“He was not very fond of girls”: Sarah Bush Lincoln interview, September 8, 1865, in
HI,
p. 108.
“He would burst…‘clean those girls look’”: AL, quoted in William H. Herndon, “Analysis of the Character of Abraham Lincoln,”
Abraham Lincoln Quarterly
I (September 1941), p. 367.
“as demoralized…out of sight”: Whitney,
Life on the Circuit with Lincoln,
p. 59.
“a business which I do not understand”: AL to Mrs. M. J. Green, September 22, 1860, in
CW,
IV, p. 118.
“…when the genius of”
: Stephen Vincent Benét,
John Brown’s Body
(New York: Henry Holt & Co., 1927; 1990), p. 189.
“Lincoln had…his terrible passion”: WHH to JWW, January 23, 1890, reel 10, Herndon-Weik Collection, DLC.
“his Conscience…many a woman”: David Davis interview, September 20, 1866, in
HI,
p. 350.
“handsome…much vivacity”: Esther Sumners Bale interview, [1866], in ibid., p. 527 (first quote); Nancy G. Vineyard to JWW, February 4, 1887, in ibid., p. 601 (second quote).
“a good conversationalist…splendid reader”: Benjamin R. Vineyard to JWW, March 14, 1887, in ibid., p. 610.
would make a good match…honor-bound to keep his word: AL to Mrs. Orville H. Browning, April 1, 1838, in
CW,
I, pp. 117–19.
“This thing of living…Yours, &c.—Lincoln”: AL to Mary S. Owens, May 7, 1837, in ibid., pp. 78–79.
“mortified almost beyond…enough to have me”: AL to Mrs. Orville H. Browning, April 1, 1838, in ibid., p. 119.
The Edwards mansion…drink, and merry conversation: Randall,
Mary Lincoln,
p. 5.
“the exact reverse”: Herndon and Weik,
Herndon’s Life of Lincoln,
p. 165.
“physically, temperamentally, emotionally”: Rankin,
Personal Recollections of Abraham Lincoln,
p. 160.
“her face an…passing emotion”: Elizabeth Humphreys Norris to Emilie Todd Helm, September 28, 1895, quoted in Randall,
Mary Lincoln,
p. 24.
a self-controlled man: Elizabeth and Ninian W. Edwards interview, July 27, 1887, in
HI,
p. 623; MTL to Josiah G. Holland, December 4, 1865, in Justin G. Turner and Linda Levitt Turner,
Mary Todd Lincoln: Her Life and Letters
(New York: Knopf, 1972; New York: Fromm International, 1987), p. 293.
“he felt most deeply…the least”: MTL to Josiah G. Holland, December 4, 1865, in ibid., p. 293.
“the very creature of excitement”: James C. Conkling to Mercy Ann Levering, September 21, 1840, quoted in ibid., pp. 10–11.
“a Bishop forget his prayers”: Ninian W. Edwards, quoted in Helm,
The True Story of Mary,
p. 81.
“a welcome guest everywhere…rarely danced”: Tarbell,
The Life of Abraham Lincoln,
Vol. I (New York: Doubleday & McClure Co., 1900), p. 171.
“the highest marks…the biggest prizes”: Helm,
The True Story of Mary,
p. 52.
Mary journeyed to…“‘Mary’s’ grave”: MTL to Rhoda White, August 30, 1869, in Turner and Turner,
Mary Todd Lincoln,
p. 516.
Mary’s life in Lexington: See chapters 1–3 in Baker,
Mary Todd Lincoln.
“a violent little Whig”: Helm,
The True Story of Mary,
p. 41.
“destined to be…future President”: Elizabeth Todd Edward interview, 1865–1866, in
HI,
p. 443.
proudly rode her new pony: Helm,
The True Story of Mary,
pp. 1–2.
“I suppose like the rest…called in question?”: MTL to Mercy Ann Levering, December [15?], 1840, in Turner and Turner,
Mary Todd Lincoln,
p. 21.
“the
great cause”
: “Campaign Circular from Whig Committee,” January [31?], 1840, in
CW,
1, p. 202.
“Old hero”: “Communication to the Readers of
The Old Soldier,”
February 28, 1840, in ibid., p. 204.
death of Mary’s mother; father’s remarriage: See Baker,
Mary Todd Lincoln,
pp. 20, 22, 24, 28–30.
turned “desolate”: MTL to Eliza Stuart Steele, May 23, 1871, in Turner and Turner,
Mary Todd Lincoln,
p. 588.
her only real home: MTL to Elizabeth Keckley, October 29, 1867, in ibid., p. 447.
“an emotional…heart would break”: Mrs. Woodrow, quoted in Helm,
The True Story of Mary,
p. 32.
“either in the garret or cellar”: Orville H. Browning, quoted in Nicolay,
An Oral History of Abraham Lincoln,
p. 1.
Mary may have precipitated: Abner Y. Ellis to WHH, March 24, 1866, in
HI,
p. 238; Stephen B. Oates,
With Malice Toward None: The Life of Abraham Lincoln
(New York: New American Library Penguin Books, 1977; 1978), p. 60.
Elizabeth warned…“husband & wife”: Elizabeth Todd Edwards interview, 1865–1866, in
HI,
pp. 443, 444.
Mary had other suitors: MTL to Mercy Ann Levering, July 23 and December [15?], 1840, in Turner and Turner,
Mary Todd Lincoln,
pp. 18, 20; Baker,
Mary Todd Lincoln,
pp. 84–85.
“an agreeable…my heart is not”: MTL to Mercy Ann Levering, July 23, 1840, in Turner and Turner,
Mary Todd Lincoln,
p. 18.
Far more likely, Lincoln’s own misgivings: Tarbell,
The Life of Abraham Lincoln,
Vol. I, p. 173; Donald,
Lincoln,
pp. 86–87; Paul M. Angle, Appendix, in Carl Sandburg and Paul M. Angle,
Mary Lincoln, Wife and Widow
(New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1932; 1960), p. 331.
“in the winter…whole heart to me”: Joshua F. Speed to WHH, November 30, 1866, in
HI,
p. 430.
Lincoln’s change of heart…Matilda Edwards: Douglas L. Wilson, “Abraham Lincoln and ‘That Fatal First of January,’” in Douglas L. Wilson,
Lincoln before Washington: New Perspectives on the Illinois Years
(Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1997), pp. 99–125.
“A lovelier girl I never saw”: MTL to Mercy Ann Levering, December [15?], 1840, in Turner and Turner,
Mary Todd Lincoln,
p. 20.
“aberration of mind…violation of his word”: Browning, quoted in Nicolay,
An Oral History of Abraham Lincoln,
p. 1.
no evidence that Lincoln ever made his feelings known: Elizabeth Todd and Ninian W. Edwards interviews, September 22, 1865, [1865–1866], July 27, 1887, in
HI,
pp. 133, 444, 623.
“never bear to leave…the strength of it”: Jane Bell quoted in Wilson, “Abraham Lincoln and ‘That Fatal First of January,’” in Wilson,
Lincoln before Washington,
p. 110.
“his ability and Capacity…support a wife”: Elizabeth Todd Edwards interview, 1865–1866, in
HI,
p. 443.
driving up the marriage age: Fidler, “Young Limbs of the Law,” pp. 266–67.
“is a jealous mistress…constant courtship”: Joseph Story, “The Value and Importance of Legal Studies. A Discourse Pronounced at the Inauguration of the Author as Dane Professor of Law in Harvard University, August 25, 1829,” in
The Miscellaneous Writings of Joseph Story,
ed. William W. Story.
Da Capo Press Reprints in American Constitutional and Legal History,
gen. ed. Leonard W. Levy (Boston, 1852; New York: Da Capo Press, 1972), p. 523.
Lincoln drafted a letter…lost his nerve: Joshua F. Speed interview, 1865–1866, in
HI,
pp. 475, 477.
“To tell you the truth…kissed her”: AL, quoted in Herndon and Weik,
Herndon’s Life of Lincoln,
p. 169.
This second confrontation: Wilson, “Abraham Lincoln and ‘That Fatal First of January,’” in Wilson,
Lincoln before Washington,
pp. 103, 112.
“ability to keep…gem of [his] character”: AL to Joshua F. Speed, July 4, 1842, in
CW,
I, p. 289.
“not single spies…battalions”: William Shakespeare, “Hamlet,” act 4, scene 5,
William Shakespeare Tragedies, Volume 1. Everyman’s Library
(New York and Toronto: Alfred A. Knopf, 1992), p. 105.
details of Speed leaving Springfield: Kincaid,
Joshua Fry Speed,
p. 15.
Speed’s departure would bring: James Conkling to Mercy Ann Levering, January 24, 1841, and Levering to Conkling, February 7, 1841, quoted in Wilson, “Abraham Lincoln and ‘That Fatal First of January,’” in Wilson,
Lincoln before Washington,
p. 117; Burlingame,
The Inner World of Abraham Lincoln,
p. 100.
“I shall be verry…pained by the loss”: AL to Joshua F. Speed, February 25, 1842, in
CW,
I, p. 281.
worried that he was suicidal: James H. Matheny interview, May 3, 1866, in
HI,
p. 251; Speed,
Reminiscences of Abraham Lincoln,
p. 39.
“Lincoln went Crazy…it was terrible”: Joshua F. Speed interview, [1865–1866], in
HI,
p. 474.