Abraham Lincoln: The Exceptional President

President Abraham Lincoln

Our sixteenth president, Abraham Lincoln. One of the greatest and most loved presidents in history. Even after his assassination, people still viewed him as an exceptional president. From humble beginnings to becoming the most powerful man in America, Lincoln is known today as a great and influential person whose message echoes in American politics as well as American ethics. For instance, after reading the three texts about Lincoln, it concludes that each of the authors believe that Lincoln was the perfect person for the job of President of the United States. Defining Lincoln as the astonishing president he was, one can see that the definition of him is motivated, how loved he was, and love for history and literature. Finally the texts examples, The Rise of a President, Lincoln’s Famous Address, and Grace Bedell and the President’s Beard, all define Lincoln as the exceptional president he was.

To start off, elucidating Lincoln into the motivated person he was helps everyone understand why he was a born president.

Ever since his childhood he was motivated and dedicated to accomplish his goals. “...Abraham’s education was limited to what his mother and stepmother taught him and brief stints in school. Mostly, he taught himself by reading and rereading whatever books he could find. He knew that he was gifted and took responsibility for feeding his intellectual curiosity” (Billings). Consequently, the factors of his motivational personality helped him in his later life as well. Lincoln ran for the Senate to oppose the Kansas-Nebraska Act. In one speech, Lincoln proclaimed that he hated the act because of the grotesque injustice of slavery itself. Lincoln lost this race but ran again in 1858 against his long-time rival, Democrat Stephen Douglas. In other words, Lincoln did not stop after one, two, not even three time sof losing in his political runs. He was dedicated to keep trying to accomplish what he

wanted.
Secondly, being kind hearted is one of the most important things needed to build a person like Abraham Lincoln and to be loved just as much as he is. Lincoln resembled this characteristic throughout all of his presidency; in addition, he mirrored it during his childhood and his run for president. For instance, when Lincoln was younger, he did not live the most welcoming childhood. His mother died, and his dad left Lincoln and his siblings home as he went off with Lincoln’s soon to be stepmom. Therefore, he did not witness the loving family that most children live through. “...As Bedell later told the story, ‘He climbed down and sat down with me on the edge of the station platform. ‘Gracie,’ he said ‘look at my whiskers. I have been growing them for you.’ Then he kissed me. I never saw him again...’” (Harrison). Consequently, just because Lincoln did not get to experience love as a child, he still inherited it over time and spread it to other people. In the end, reading these articles help define Lincoln as the selfless person he was.
In addition, in Lincoln’s childhood, he did not grow up surrounded by schools and parents who were always home to educate him. Therefore, he understand that he needed to learn and educate himself somehow. With that being said, he grew a love for history and literature by reading and rereading books to learn. “He continued to seek out and devour books of all kinds, jotting down favorite passages as he read. Lincoln’s love of books was considered odd in the rural farm community he grew up in, which valued labor and strength more than knowledge” (Billings). Lincoln’s strength and love in literature and history really sprouted and revealed in his famous 270 word speech called, “The Lincoln Address.” This speech was not only remembered because it was written by Abraham Lincoln, but it was reminisced about because of the language and the length of it. This speech about declaring a purpose in the fight to preserve the nation was so incredible because of his substantial fundamentals in literature and history. In conclusion, Lincoln’s presidency is also defined by his strength in literature.
In conclusion, as represented in all three texts, the authors defined lincoln as an exceptional president. Additionally, nearly all of the world from today and back then, define Lincoln as a president with the terms of kind hearted, dedication, and ingeniousness in literature and history. In final analysis, Abraham Lincoln had all of the characteristics it took to become the perfect president and will be defined as one forever.