Today, Abraham Lincoln is widely considered the greatest president in American history. His management of the Civil War was absolutely essential to the eventual outcome – reintegration of the Union.  With a lesser leader, the United States might not have included the southern states.  Lincoln’s impoverished beginnings, self-education,oratory skills, humility, humanity, and political genius making have made him legendary in American history. No other American has been written about more, or written about with such great admiration as our 16th president.  

Since his tragic death, cities, counties, parks, buildings, highways, and museums have been named in his honor. His face appears on both the United States penny and five dollar bill. His immortal words from the Gettysburg Address are considered priceless treasures. The Library of Congress commissioned the actual invention of specialized cases that replace oxygen with argon to protect the physical documents forever.  The Lincoln Memorial, one of the most visited places in Washington D.C., was built for “anyone who seeks inspiration and hope.” The iconic Washington landmark is open 24 hours a day.  The nineteen-foot marble statue of Lincoln weighs 159 tons. It was at the memorial, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his famous “I have a Dream Speech” in 1963, thereby giving hope to over 250,000 people that African-Americans would one day have the same rights at Whites on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation.