Tag: Lincoln Group of DC

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John C. Fremont Was a Problem

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John C. FremontOn September 5, 1861, President Abraham Lincoln had a problem, and that problem was John C. Fremont. Seeking a solution, Lincoln conferred with Commanding General of the U.S. Army Winfield Scott. He wanted some input on what to do with Fremont. Here is what I wrote up for the Lincolnian.org website:

On August 30, 1861, General John C. Fremont, who Lincoln had put in charge of the Department of the West based in Missouri, issued what effectively was martial law and a proclamation of emancipation. President Lincoln was not amused.

Fremont was not just some appointed general. He had been the first Republican nominee for president in 1856. Lincoln had supported Fremont at that time and even received 110 votes in nomination to be Fremont’s vice-presidential running mate (he lost out to William Dayton). In the 1840s, Fremont earned his nickname “The Pathfinder” by leading several expeditions to California. He also married Jesse Benton, daughter of powerful Senator Thomas Hart Benton. Fremont served in the Mexican War and was briefly the territorial governor of California, later becoming one of its first two senators. But he was also no stranger to controversy, including being court-martialed for insubordination in 1847 (later commuted to merely a dishonorable discharge by President Polk).

Fremont ran a strict operation in Missouri at the beginning of the Civil War. His proclamation included a rather problematic passage:

All persons who shall be taken with arms in their hands within these lines shall be tried by court-martial, and, if found guilty, will be shot. The property, real and personal, of all persons in the State of Missouri who shall take up arms against the United States, and who shall be directly proven to have taken active part with their enemies in the field, is declared to be confiscated to the public use; and their slaves, if any they have, are hereby declared free.

Lincoln quickly recognized this as a major conflict with the confiscation acts passed by Congress, not to mention that Missouri had remained in the Union even though it was a slave state. Emancipating enslaved people by edict would violate the Constitution as Lincoln (and most others) understood it. Furthermore, taking such extreme action in a loyal state would cause problems with the other border states, most especially Kentucky. As Lincoln reportedly said elsewhere, “I hope to have God on my side, but I must have Kentucky.”

Finding out about Fremont’s proclamation from the newspapers, Lincoln responded in his usual deferential way asking Fremont to reconsider. Fremont replied in his usual arrogant way by telling Lincoln he (i.e., Fremont) knew better than Lincoln and if Lincoln wanted Fremont to rescind the proclamation, he would have order it. Fremont sent his response with his wife, Jesse Benton Fremont, to be personally delivered on September 8. Equally self-assured, Jesse attempted to persuade Lincoln that Fremont’s action was correct. Lincoln disagreed, and on September 11, 1861, Lincoln called Fremont’s bluff and wrote:

Your answer, just received, expresses the preference on your part, that I should make an open order for the modification, which I very cheerfully do. It is therefore ordered that the said clause of said proclamation be so modified, held, and construed, as to conform to, and not to transcend, the provisions on the same subject contained in the act of Congress entitled “An Act to confiscate property used for insurrectionary purposes” Approved, August 6. 1861; and that said act be published at length with this order. Your Obt. Servt A. LINCOLN.

Again, the rationale was clear. A general in the field may not issue proclamations that 1) are illegal in that they do not confirm to the laws, and 2) would cause tremendous national security issues that could result in the end of the United States. Not long after this incident, Lincoln sent envoys to assess the situation in Missouri. Their reports confirmed general disarray and Fremont “doing absolutely nothing.” One reported that Fremont was “wholly incompetent.” Seeing no other recourse, Lincoln removed Fremont from command. Fremont did get a second chance as commander of the forces on the Virginia and Kentucky border, but after being badly defeated in battle, Fremont eventually resigned. 

Not learning the lesson, one of Fremont’s division commanders at the time in Missouri, Major General David Hunter, also garnered President Lincoln’s castigation with his similar General Order No. 11 in May of 1862.

The rescinded Fremont proclamation was one of many factors that pulled the slavery question one way and another over the course of the next years, the culmination of factors which would lead to the end of slavery in the District of Columbia and Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation in 1862.

[Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons; This post is adapted from one written for Lincolnian.org]

 

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Happy Anniversary Lincoln Papers!

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Lincoln PapersToday, July 26, marks the 75th anniversary of the opening of the Lincoln Papers at the Library of Congress.

A year ago, Lincolnian editor and longtime Lincoln Group of DC member Wendy Swanson wrote a post on Lincolnian.org about the anniversary. It was a huge event, drawing historians from across the country to the Library of Congress to examine for the first time all the papers Robert Lincoln had held back until then. As Wendy wrote:

Robert Todd Lincoln had deposited the Lincoln Papers with the Library of Congress in 1919 and on January 23, 1923, he deeded them to the Library. The deed stipulated that the Lincoln Papers remain sealed until 21 years after his own death. He died July 26, 1926, a week before his 83rd birthday. On July 26, 1947, the Lincoln Papers were officially opened to the public.

The younger Lincoln had arranged for the organization and care of the papers shortly after his father’s assassination. At that time, he had the Lincoln Papers removed to Illinois, where Judge David Davis of Bloomington, Ill., Abraham Lincoln’s longtime associate, directed the first organization of the documents. Later, Lincoln’s presidential secretaries, John G. Nicolay and John Hay, assisted in the project. In 1874, most of the Lincoln Papers returned to Washington, D.C., and Nicolay and Hay used them in the research and writing of their 10-volume biography, Abraham Lincoln: A History (New York, 1890).

The papers encompassed over 40,000 documents detailing the life and presidency of Abraham Lincoln. They included both state papers like the drafts of the Emancipation Proclamation and Gettysburg Address, as well as correspondence Lincoln had with some of the most important figures of the day. To that collection the Library of Congress has added other documents from other sources, making it a place where all Lincoln scholars have made a pilgrimage (or ten) to see original manuscripts for their research. I’ve spent quite some time there myself. For those who live far away, much of the collection has been digitized and is available online. As Wendy notes:

The Library of Congress website contains extensive information about the Lincoln Papers and Lincoln Research Resources. If you haven’t already, take time to explore these historic treasures.

Take a hop over to Lincolnian.org to read Wendy’s full article on the topic.

Before you leave, today, July 26, 2023, is also the anniversary of Robert’s death, which is what triggered the release of the Papers. I’ll have more shortly on Robert and Hildene, his summer home in Vermont, where I recently visited and toured.

[Photo from Library of Congress]

Fire of Genius

Lincoln: The Fire of Genius: How Abraham Lincoln’s Commitment to Science and Technology Helped Modernize America is available at booksellers nationwide.

Limited signed copies are available via this website. The book also listed on Goodreads, the database where I keep track of my reading. Click on the “Want to Read” button to put it on your reading list. Please leave a review on Goodreads and Amazon if you like the book.

You also follow my author page on Facebook.

David J. Kent is President of the Lincoln Group of DC and the author of Lincoln: The Fire of Genius: How Abraham Lincoln’s Commitment to Science and Technology Helped Modernize America and Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America.

His previous books include Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity and Edison: The Inventor of the Modern World and two specialty e-books: Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time and Abraham Lincoln and Nikola Tesla: Connected by Fate.

 

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The One Year Anniversary of the Lincoln Memorial Centennial Program

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David J Kent at the Lincoln MemorialOne year ago today I was the master of ceremonies for the centennial anniversary of the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial. What an experience it was.

Two recent posts on Lincolnian.org (the website of the Lincoln Group of DC, of which I am president) recounted highlights from the program. My reminiscences noted that the program was a year in the making, with me as the lead organizer but several others in the Lincoln Group using their contacts to help get some of the key participants. We were able to get the services of some of well-known Lincoln scholars, historically important speakers, a fantastic singer to highlight the evolving role of the Memorial from one of reconciliation to a symbol of the rights of all Americans, a famous actor to recite the dedicatory poem and Lincoln’s two most famous speeches, and even “The President’s Own” Marine Band.

Wendy Swanson’s newest post recalls the Lincoln Memorial Centennial as “A Shining Moment,” both for the Memorial and the Lincoln Group of DC. Whereas the sole African American participant’s speech was censored at the Jim Crow-era dedication in 1922…:

“the theme of the 2022 offering – “Building on Lincoln’s Vision of Unity and Equality” – clearly proclaimed that this event would be different. In 2022 Lincoln would be celebrated both as a unifier and as an emancipator. It was fitting and proper to do so – after all, over the years Lincoln’s Memorial has become not only a tribute to the man himself but also a symbol of social justice and equality for all.”

She noted that:

“The program executed that theme beautifully – a mixture of history, music, and inspiration but also of “calls to action.” Moreover, unlike in 1922, those gathered that morning – both the speakers and the attendees – reflected the face and diversity of America.”

In my reminiscences, I noted that:

“By all metrics, the Lincoln Memorial Centennial event was a wonderful success. We managed to pay homage to the original dedication while also correcting some of the deficiencies of that day. We also captured the continuing evolution and growth of the Memorial’s meaning to all Americans. I believe we honored Abraham Lincoln with our program and demonstrated how the Memorial will continue to be a focal point for both memory and change. It seemed altogether fitting and proper that at the end of the formal ceremonies, we invited all of those present – speakers, organizers, park rangers, audience members, and random visitors – to join us on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial for a grand photo, which can be seen on our website.”

Lincoln Memorial

Looking back, the Centennial program was a lot of work on the part of many people. But it was a program that I’ll forever be proud of for how we captured the continuing and evolving meaning of the Memorial both for Lincoln’s memory and the future of all Americans.

[All photos: Bruce Guthrie]

 

Fire of Genius

Lincoln: The Fire of Genius: How Abraham Lincoln’s Commitment to Science and Technology Helped Modernize America is available at booksellers nationwide.

Limited signed copies are available via this website. The book also listed on Goodreads, the database where I keep track of my reading. Click on the “Want to Read” button to put it on your reading list. Please leave a review on Goodreads and Amazon if you like the book.

You also follow my author page on Facebook.

David J. Kent is President of the Lincoln Group of DC and the author of Lincoln: The Fire of Genius: How Abraham Lincoln’s Commitment to Science and Technology Helped Modernize America and Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America.

His previous books include Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity and Edison: The Inventor of the Modern World and two specialty e-books: Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time and Abraham Lincoln and Nikola Tesla: Connected by Fate.

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Long-Delayed Lincoln Memorial Renovations to Finally Start

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Lincoln Memorial statue and wreathsFinally! The long-delayed renovations to the Lincoln Memorial are about to start. My colleague in the Lincoln Group of DC, Ed Epstein, reported on the official U.S. National Park Service announcement this morning. Writing on the Lincolnian.org blog, Epstein notes:

The National Park Service in coming weeks will finally start work on long discussed and long- delayed work to vastly expand visitor space under Washington’s landmark Lincoln Memorial, by far the most visited of the capital city’s many monuments and memorials.

Most of the century-old memorial will remain open during the work, which is expected to last at least four years, the Park Service said in unveiling news of the project’s kickoff. The project was originally announced in 2016, with an $18.6 million donation from billionaire David Rubenstein, a philanthropist who has played a major role in several ventures involving historical preservation in Washington, including paying $7.5 million for repairing the Washington Memorial after a 2010 earthquake. Among other projects, he also bought an original copy of the Magna Carta from 1297 for $21.3 million and has lent it to the National Archives to put on display.

The current visitors center in the Lincoln Memorial’s basement, or undercroft, is 800 square feet. That will grow to 15,000 square feet. The project will also include new restrooms, a larger bookstore and elevator replacement work. The current bookstore is in a cramped space off the northeast corner of the memorial’s main chamber, not far from where the words of Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address are carved into the wall.

The Park Service said the new visitors center will feature ceiling-to-floor glass walls that will offer a view of some of the undercroft’s arched supports, which were sunk deep into the marshy land on which the memorial was built to provide support for the massive 38,000-ton granite and marble structure. The latest trends in museum design will include an “immersive theater presentation” that will flash images of the many historic events that have taken place at the memorial onto the foundations.

Displays will explain the epic construction of the memorial and talk about how the Lincoln Memorial became the site of major civil rights demonstrations, most notably the August 1963 march on Washington, at which the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “I have a dream” speech before a crowd of a few hundred thousand people.

“We’re essentially building a modern glass structure inside this historic space,” said Jeffrey Reinbold, superintendent of the park service’s National Mall and Memorial Parks. In an interview with the Washington Post, he added, “And all of the challenges of how visitors would move throughout the space, interact with this historic space … took a little longer than we expected” to plan.

The work is supposed to finish in 2026, in time for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4th. But given the vagaries of construction work, that could be optimistic.

Go here to read the full article by Ed Epstein on the Lincolnian.org website.

This is exciting news, and the Lincoln Group of DC will keep everyone up to date as the project progresses.

Meanwhile, my tour celebrating the release of Lincoln: The Fire of Genius continues with upcoming presentations at the Abraham Lincoln Institute’s annual symposium at Ford’s Theatre in March and the Lincoln Society of Peekskill’s annual banquet in April. You can catch any or all of the interviews and presentations I’ve done for Lincoln: The Fire of Genius. Just scroll through my Media page for events with President Lincoln’s Cottage, the Abraham Lincoln Looking for Lincoln program, my interview on The Pat Williams Show (founder of the Orlando Magic basketball team), the Our American Stories radio program, and much more. Plus, check out upcoming events.

[Photo by David J. Kent, February 12, 2023, at the annual wreath laying ceremony for Lincoln’s birthday]

Fire of Genius

 

Lincoln: The Fire of Genius: How Abraham Lincoln’s Commitment to Science and Technology Helped Modernize America is available at booksellers nationwide.

Limited signed copies are available via this website. The book also listed on Goodreads, the database where I keep track of my reading. Click on the “Want to Read” button to put it on your reading list. Please leave a review on Goodreads and Amazon if you like the book.

You also follow my author page on Facebook.

David J. Kent is President of the Lincoln Group of DC and the author of Lincoln: The Fire of Genius: How Abraham Lincoln’s Commitment to Science and Technology Helped Modernize America and Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America.

His previous books include Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity and Edison: The Inventor of the Modern World and two specialty e-books: Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time and Abraham Lincoln and Nikola Tesla: Connected by Fate.

 

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Up Close and Personal – The Lincolnian Interview, Part 3 (The Final Part)

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Lincoln: The Fire of GeniusI was interviewed for the summer 2022 issue of The Lincolnian, the newsletter of the Lincoln Group of DC. This is Part 3, the final part. Here is Part 1 and Part 2. The focus was on my new book, Lincoln: The Fire of Genius. The interviewer was Wendy Swanson, editor of The Lincolnian.

What’s next? Do you have plans/ideas for your next book?

I have several books in various stages of planning and writing. I’m currently scoping out a book version of my “Chasing Abraham Lincoln” blog series. The hope is to examine the soul of America through Lincoln.

And what’s next for the Lincoln Gp?  Any thoughts on future events?  What else do you want to accomplish during your presidency?

The Lincoln Group has a long history of promoting Lincoln scholarship and public education and modern communication options are helping us grow into a truly national organization. This coming year is the 160th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, so I expect us to address that in several ways. The Group will also build closer working relationships with other Lincoln organizations in the area plus the DC school system. The country needs to learn from Lincoln, and the Lincoln Group is best positioned to help guide that learning.

Anything else you wish to add on these topics?

I was thrilled that Sidney Blumenthal agreed to write the Foreword for my book. He wrote an article on Lincoln and technology while my book proposal was circulating publishers, and his foreword is perfect for introducing the book. I was equally excited that many of Lincoln scholarship’s most renowned experts wrote back cover blurbs for me, including Harold Holzer, Michael Burlingame, scientist-turned-historian Ed Steers, former National Academy of Sciences historian Marc Rothenberg, James Cornelius, and several others. That support and confidence is extremely encouraging as the book finally makes it into stores.

Release date for the book is September 1st, but it is already available for pre-order at Rowman & Littlefield’s website, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and all other book outlets. It’s available as hardcover and e-book (Kindle and Nook), with hopefully a paperback to come out next year. I’ve also seen it listed by booksellers based on Canada, the UK/Europe, and Australia, so you can probably find it on shelves or online if you live in any predominantly English-speaking country worldwide. My earlier books were translated into multiple languages (Tesla even got translated into Czech), so I’m hopeful Lincoln: The Fire of Genius will be as well.

Not part of the interview, but I often get asked: What’s next?

Right now, I’m preparing for quite a few upcoming presentations, as you can see from the list on my Media page. That includes keynote speeches in January, February, March, and April of 2023. I’ve also started traveling again. I went to Iceland in early July and am scheduled for a trip to Tanzania right after Thanksgiving. Meanwhile, my editor has expressed interest in getting to work on my next book. And, of course, there are plenty of Lincoln Group of DC events coming up (with more to be added soon).

Finally, a reminder: If you’ve read Lincoln: The Fire of Genius and liked it, please leave ratings and reviews on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and elsewhere (you can copy and paste the same review if you want). It helps more people learn about the book and is very much appreciated by all authors.

Lincoln: The Fire of Genius

 

Lincoln: The Fire of Genius: How Abraham Lincoln’s Commitment to Science and Technology Helped Modernize America was released on September 1, 2022.

The book is available for purchase at all bookseller outlets. Limited signed copies are available via this website. The book also listed on Goodreads, the database where I keep track of my reading. Click on the “Want to Read” button to put it on your reading list. Please leave a review if you like the book.

You also follow my author page on Facebook.

David J. Kent is President of the Lincoln Group of DC and the author of Lincoln: The Fire of Genius: How Abraham Lincoln’s Commitment to Science and Technology Helped Modernize America and Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America.

His previous books include Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity and Edison: The Inventor of the Modern World and two specialty e-books: Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time and Abraham Lincoln and Nikola Tesla: Connected by Fate.

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Up Close and Personal – The Lincolnian Interview, Part 2

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Lincoln: The Fire of GeniusIn Part 1, I noted that I was interviewed for the summer 2022 issue of The Lincolnian, the newsletter of the Lincoln Group of DC. This is Part 2. The focus was on my new book, Lincoln: The Fire of Genius. The interviewer was Wendy Swanson, editor of The Lincolnian. If you haven’t already, read Part 1 here.

What similarities does this book have with your prior work, Lincoln:  The Man Who Saved America?  And what are the differences? Did you focus on the same traits/characteristics of Lincoln here as in your previous Lincoln book or did you approach Lincoln a bit differently or see a different aspect of Lincoln the man?  

The Man Who Saved America was a general biography written for general audiences, with a graphics-oriented design to bring Lincoln’s life to a broad swath of Americans. The Fire of Genius focuses on bringing one aspect – the thread of science and technology through his life – to people who know Lincoln’s basic story already. Readers will see how much this thread helped drive Lincoln’s ambitions and place the nation on a path to modernity.

Does the book share similarities with your books on scientists/innovators (Tesla, Einstein)? How did you approach this one differently?

All my books are easy to read. Many Lincoln books are overly academic and don’t get wide readership. Like Lincoln, my goal is to make the science – and the history – accessible to the public. The book is full of deep scholarship for sure, but I present it such that people can get the most out of it without feeling like they are studying for the SAT exam.

Your first Lincoln book contained many images – will this book also?

No. The previous books were designed to appeal to those who might otherwise avoid reading biographies, including younger people drawn to rapid-fire visual cues. The text in The Fire of Genius does all the work – but it isn’t a chore to read. I use stories and anecdotes to bring the concepts to life. People will learn about science and history, but they won’t get bogged down in it.

Will you be signing copies at the September program?  At any other Lincoln related functions? Where else can we get the book? Who is the publisher?

I will have books on hand for me to personally inscribe. In addition to the September LGDC program I’ll be giving a talk at the Cosmos Club later that week. The LGDC talk will cover Lincoln’s scientific growth broadly while at the Cosmos I’ll focus more deeply on the Civil War aspects. I’ll be giving a third talk at the Arts Club focused on how art and technology blend together in Lincoln’s life. That means three completely different talks! For those who follow the Abraham Lincoln Book Shop, I’ll be doing a virtual book signing with Daniel Weinberg on the release date of September 1st. The book will be available everywhere – Barnes and Noble, Amazon, independent bookstores, libraries, even Walmart. It will also be available at the Lincoln Forum bookshop in November. The publisher is Lyons Press, the trade imprint of Rowman & Littlefield.

Tell us a bit about your own background – and how your history interests, particularly that pertaining to Lincoln, and your scientific background intertwine.  What was the fire that first ignited your interest in Lincoln?  How did it take hold and grow?

My hometown billed itself as “The Birthplace of American Independence.” It was also a seacoast town where most people owned small boats and large clam rakes. So, science and history were always intertwined for me. While the science (and Jacques Cousteau) drew me into marine biology, then ecotoxicology, then regulatory consulting for my paying career, the history was always there in the background. Carl Sandburg and Jim Bishop got me hooked on Lincoln early while most in my town were focused on the Revolutionary War. I saw in Lincoln the same theme of honesty, integrity, and hard work that I was learning from my parents. I wanted to understand him more. One day about ten years ago I decided to flip the script and move the study of Lincoln to the front and do the science on the side. By that time, I had collected a thousand Lincoln books (that number is now about 1600). Given our recent history, the importance of Lincoln to today’s world can’t be overestimated.

We know you search out Lincoln sites/images when you travel.  Any recent sightings?  What sites are still on your bucket list?  Which are your favorite sites – and what did they tell you about Lincoln?  Any unexpected Lincolns?

I stopped a night in Hartford, CT in early June to check out a dozen new Lincoln-inspired statues along a riverfront park. I’ll be doing another road trip in August to visit other Lincoln-related New England sites. Probably next year I’ll road trip to see Lincoln statues in the central US.

The Lincoln Group just participated in a once-in-a-lifetime program on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.  Your thoughts on that effort?  And your thoughts on reviewing the video after the fact.

Because I emceed, I didn’t get the full effect of the program until I watched the stellar C-SPAN video weeks later. The Lincoln Group of DC should feel immensely proud of the program we put together. As one person put it, “it was a sacred effort.”

Are you pleased with the message that program sent to attendees and viewers?

I’m happy that the program was both entertaining and of high substance. Rather than a simple paean to a great man and building, the speakers challenged the public to take responsibility for today’s continuing need to finish the nation’s unfinished business. Lincoln can guide us along that path. I think we did a public service as well as a re-dedication of the greater meaning of the Memorial has grown to encompass.

 

I’ll have the final bit of the interview in Part 3 to be posted shortly. Here’s Part 1 in case you missed it. The Lincolnian is the official quarterly newsletter of the Lincoln Group of DC. Lincolnian.org is the group’s website, so check it out. Membership is open to everyone who has an interest in Abraham Lincoln.

P.S. I was also interviewed by The Lincolnian in 2017 when my earlier book was released. You can read more about that book, Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America, in Part 1 and Part 2.

[Photo courtesy of Rod Ross]

Lincoln: The Fire of Genius

 

Lincoln: The Fire of Genius: How Abraham Lincoln’s Commitment to Science and Technology Helped Modernize America was released on September 1, 2022.

The book is available for purchase at all bookseller outlets. Limited signed copies are available via this website. The book also listed on Goodreads, the database where I keep track of my reading. Click on the “Want to Read” button to put it on your reading list. Please leave a review if you like the book.

You also follow my author page on Facebook.

David J. Kent is President of the Lincoln Group of DC and the author of Lincoln: The Fire of Genius: How Abraham Lincoln’s Commitment to Science and Technology Helped Modernize America and Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America.

His previous books include Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity and Edison: The Inventor of the Modern World and two specialty e-books: Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time and Abraham Lincoln and Nikola Tesla: Connected by Fate.

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Up Close and Personal – The Lincolnian Interview, Part 1

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Lincoln Group of DCI was interviewed in the summer 2022 issue of The Lincolnian, the newsletter of the Lincoln Group of DC. The Lincolnian is sent to all Lincoln Group members quarterly (if you’re not a member, you can become one here). Below is Part 1 of the interview entitled “Up Close and Personal with Lincoln Group President David J. Kent.” The focus was on my new book, Lincoln: The Fire of Genius. The interviewer was Wendy Swanson, editor of The Lincolnian.

Your new book – Lincoln: The Fire of Genius – is due out soon and we will be celebrating its launch party at our September meeting.  Tell us a bit about the publication.  What inspired you to write the book?  What are the major themes/topics?  Who is the targeted audience?  Does one need a background in science to gain optimal benefit from reading the book?

Over my long career as a scientist, I noticed the scientific way Abraham Lincoln approached problem solving. As I dug deeper, I could see the thread of science and technology running through his life. The book extracts this thread and we see how fundamental it became to his overarching goal of “bettering his condition” as well as giving everyone – not just the wealthy elite – an equal chance in the race of life.

I look at this theme in each major aspect of his life – growing up on the farm, expanding interests as he plied the rivers and picked up technical trades and an education, how he became a go-to lawyer for patent and technology cases and his work for the railroads, and then of course in the Civil War. But I also look at his passion for internal improvements, “the science of slavery,” and the deep knowledge behind his science lectures. The book is targeted to those who know the basic story of Lincoln’s life, but don’t realize how much science and technology was woven into it. That said, the writing is breezy, not technical. It’s about Lincoln and his times, not an attempt to impress readers with technical jargon.

What do you aim to accomplish for your audience with this book?  Are there lessons to be learned from Lincoln from this work?  If so, what are they and how can they be applied in our daily lives?

I want readers to appreciate how science and technology helped drive progress during the 19th century, and how Lincoln’s appreciation for them helped not only to improve his own life but the lives of all Americans. In today’s age where science and scientists are disdained by “Google U.” instant “experts,” it’s important to see how Lincoln and others saw science as a benefit to humanity. When Lincoln didn’t understand something, he studied it until he did. We can all learn from that intellectual ethic.

How long did it take you to complete this work?  The topic sounds as if it could be quite technical?  What research did you undertake in order to write the book- and how much time/or how long did your research take?

I started toying with the primordial idea over a decade ago while I was working as a scientist in Europe. I refined the idea over several years while sidetracked into writing books on Tesla, Edison, and my Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America book. I immersed myself in the LOC, NARA, the Presidential Library in Springfield, and dozens of smaller libraries pulling on the loose threads of science and technology that wove the tapestry of his life. Visiting the places Lincoln lived and worked gave insights libraries can’t provide. My science background let me draw insights most people would miss.

Did you learn anything new – if so, what most surprised you about what you learned?

I was surprised by how much science Lincoln knew. His command of mathematics is far beyond his professed “cypherin’ to the rule of three.” He was an astronomy buff. He understood more hydrology, ecology, physics, and engineering than most people give him credit for. He thought scientifically in such a way to become a strategic thinker far beyond most of his peers.

What do most folks not know relative to Lincoln and science/technology? What do you think readers will be most surprised to learn? Will they gain a different perspective on Lincoln from reading this book?  Explain.

His focus was to bring science and technology to the masses. Thomas Jefferson could possibly be considered a “scientist” in the sense of his day. Lincoln was no scientist by any sense, but his scientific and logical thinking helped him encourage the growing technologies of his time. Jefferson made himself a better clock and a writing table; Lincoln sought to improve the lives of the farming and working classes of Americans. Readers will absolutely come away with a different perspective on Lincoln.

Part 2 has more of the interview. The Lincolnian is the official quarterly newsletter of the Lincoln Group of DC. Lincolnian.org is the group’s website, so check it out. Membership is open to everyone who has an interest in Abraham Lincoln.

P.S. I was also interviewed by The Lincolnian in 2017 when my earlier book was released. You can read more about that book, Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America, in Part 1 and Part 2.

Lincoln: The Fire of Genius

 

Lincoln: The Fire of Genius: How Abraham Lincoln’s Commitment to Science and Technology Helped Modernize America was released on September 1, 2022.

The book is available for purchase at all bookseller outlets. Limited signed copies are available via this website. The book also listed on Goodreads, the database where I keep track of my reading. Click on the “Want to Read” button to put it on your reading list. Please leave a review if you like the book.

You also follow my author page on Facebook.

David J. Kent is President of the Lincoln Group of DC and the author of Lincoln: The Fire of Genius: How Abraham Lincoln’s Commitment to Science and Technology Helped Modernize America and Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America.

His previous books include Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity and Edison: The Inventor of the Modern World and two specialty e-books: Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time and Abraham Lincoln and Nikola Tesla: Connected by Fate.

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C-SPAN Posts Recording of Lincoln Memorial Centennial Program

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Lincoln Memorial Centennial May 22 2022As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I had the privilege of being the master of ceremonies of the Lincoln Memorial Centennial program held on the Memorial steps May 22, 2022. C-SPAN (as well as other media) was there to record it, and they have now posted the full 2-hour video on their website. You can watch the program here:

https://www.c-span.org/video/?520493-1/lincoln-memorial-centennial-ceremony

C-SPAN did a wonderful job of onsite production (three cameras, excellent direction) and worked their fantastic post-production magic to create an eminently professional broadcast video. Lincoln Group of DC member Ed Epstein had this to say on Lincolnian.org:

The two-hour event, which a C-SPAN crew recorded live on Sunday, May 22, was hosted by Lincoln Group president David Kent and featured some thought-provoking speakers and great entertainers. In the photo at left by Bruce Guthrie, singer Felicia Curry sang the Star-Spangled Banner to open the proceedings, which were co-sponsored by the National Park Service and the Lincoln Forum.

The recorded program premiered on C-SPAN 2 on June 18.

The production’s quality is great and catches the atmosphere of the day’s events. It also shows the steady stream of visitors heading to and from the memorial, which draws some eight million visitors a year. It is the most visited memorial in the nation’s capital.

The program was the culmination of a year’s effort led by the Lincoln Group of DC in coordination with the National Park Service and co-sponsored by The Lincoln Forum. As president of the Lincoln Group, I played the primary role of organizing the event (along with the amazing work of many Lincoln Group board members). We had a stellar group of speakers, including Chuck Sams, the director of the National Park Service, Lincoln scholars Harold Holzer and Edna Greene Medford, African American Civil War Museum director Frank Smith, and our keynote speaker, Charlotte Morris, president of Tuskegee University. Also part of the program were representatives from MOLLUS, the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church. Musical performances were by the United States Marine Band “The President’s Own” Brass Quintet and by the incredible Felicia Curry, who sang the national anthem and two selections from Marian Anderson’s groundbreaking 1939 concert on the Memorial’s steps. The words of Lincoln and a poem read at the dedication were powerfully performed by Avatar actor, Stephen Lang. If you weren’t able to be there in person (and even if you were), now is the time to watch it in its entirety on C-SPAN.

Even though today begins summer, both the Lincoln Group and I have many upcoming events. Check out the Events tab on the Lincolnian.org for events and check out the News tab for all sorts of other interesting Lincoln (and Juneteenth) related tidbits. Check out my Media tab above for all of my upcoming programs related both to LGDC and to the release of Lincoln: The Fire of Genius.

Fire of GeniusRelease date for Lincoln: The Fire of Genius is September 1, 2022.

While you’re here, check out the various posts on Lincolnian.org related to our recent Lincoln Memorial Centennial program. For those who missed it, C-SPAN will be replaying the event at 3 pm on June 18th on CSPAN2.

The book is available for pre-order on the Rowman & Littlefield website (Lyons Press is a trade imprint of Rowman). You can also pre-order it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble (click on the respective links to pre-order). Release date is scheduled for September 1, 2022.

The book is also listed on Goodreads, the database where I keep track of my reading. Click on the “Want to Read” button to put it on your reading list. That will also ensure you get informed of the release date AND will let you try for one of ten free hardcover copies of the book that I’ll be giving away this summer. I’ll also be giving away as many as a hundred e-books. [The book will also be put out on audio]

You also follow my author page on Facebook.

I’ll have much more about the book over the next few months, so join my mailing list here to keep informed.

David J. Kent is President of the Lincoln Group of DC and the author of Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America. His previous books include Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity and Edison: The Inventor of the Modern World and two specialty e-books: Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time and Abraham Lincoln and Nikola Tesla: Connected by Fate.

Check out my Goodreads author page. While you’re at it, “Like” my Facebook author page for more updates!

 

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Lincoln Group of DC – COVID News

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Lincoln Group of DCBack in mid-July, I was happy to report that the Lincoln Group of DC was going back to live, in-person, programming. What a difference a couple of months makes. As readers will already have seen, our October meeting with Ron White, originally planned as a big in-person luncheon shindig complete with special surprises, is not going to happen. Ron has rightfully reconsidered his travel to the east coast because of the pandemic. Instead, Ron will give us a virtual presentation on October 19th.

While we expected the COVID pandemic to have weakened as people received the free and easy to obtain vaccines, the reality is that too many people remain unvaccinated. Because of that, COVID cases have again increased.

This fact has led the Lincoln Group Board to reevaluate our plans. As of now, the Lincoln Group will continue with virtual, Zoom-based lecture meetings for the rest of this year [See details below]. We are scheduled for our annual joint, in-person, meeting with the Civil War Roundtable of the District of Columbia (CWRTDC) in February 2022. That is now expected to be our first in-person meeting. If pandemic conditions allow, we will continue with in-person meetings after that time.

The situation remains fluid, so we appreciate your patience. Please keep checking back to our Lincolnian.org website for updates.

The switch to Zoom-based virtual meetings does have its advantages. There are two huge benefits of going virtual:

  • We could reach our members now spread across the United States

  • We could attract stellar speakers previously unavailable to us because of the costs of distance or scheduling limitations

But we also miss our live social interactions. As we move forward, we plan to continue with a schedule of both virtual and in-person meetings. Both take time and finances to undertake, and donations and volunteers are always welcome. Your support is critical to the continuing, and expanding, role of the Lincoln Group of DC (including plans for a Lincoln Memorial Centennial event in May 2022). [There’s a “Donate” button on the top right of this page. Any amount is appreciated. Feel free to make it a continuing donation.]

So as of now, here is our expected schedule of events. Put them on your calendar!

September 21: James Oakes on The Crooked Path to Abolition [Zoom – RSVP here]

September 25: Our Annual Tour and Picnic Returns! See this post for details!

October 19: Ron White on Lincoln in Private [Zoom – RSVP here]

November 14-19: We’ll see you at the Lincoln Forum in Gettysburg!

December 7: Was Lincoln Audacious, or Cautious? A special Zoom event where the Lincoln Group will debate Lincoln’s modus operandi.

January 2022: To be determined [Zoom]

February 2022: Joint meeting with the CWRTDC featuring Allen Guelzo and Michael Burlingame! [Expected to be In-Person]

March 2022: Abraham Lincoln Institute Symposium at Ford’s Theatre [In-Person]

April 2022: To be determined [In-Person, Maggiano’s]

May 2022: Lincoln Memorial Centennial commemoration with the National Park Service on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial

September 2022: Book Launch Party!

We hope to add some additional special events, so keep checking back here!

David Kent is the author of Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America (Fall River Press: New York, 2017) and is the president of the Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia (ed).

[Originally published on Lincolnian.org]

David J. Kent is an avid science traveler and the author of Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America, in Barnes and Noble stores now. His previous books include Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity and Edison: The Inventor of the Modern World and two specialty e-books: Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time and Abraham Lincoln and Nikola Tesla: Connected by Fate.

Check out my Goodreads author page. While you’re at it, “Like” my Facebook author page for more updates!

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Introducing the New Lincoln Group of DC Website

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The Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia, aka the Lincoln Group of DC, aka the Lincoln Group, aka LGDC, has a new website! Here’s a preview (see below the photo for more):

Lincolnian.org website

Our new URL is https://www.lincolnian.org/

The old Lincoln Group of DC website served us well for many years, but advancements in website technology led to a much needed change. Many thanks to former LGDC president and long-time website guru Karen Needles for building and maintaining the old website. Outgoing LGDC president John O’Brien took responsibility for finding an outside website developer, making the sometimes-painstaking transition from our old to the new provider, and maintaining the superstructure of the new Wix-based site. The result is a beautiful visual upgrade. We’re still transitioning the “members only” functions to the new site, so please have a bit more patience until the site is fully functional, but do take advantage of some of the new features.

Our biggest change – besides the obvious visual interface – is the addition of a Lincoln News Blog (“News” on the menu bar). We’ll have news about what the Lincoln Group is doing, about what is happening with Lincoln in the DC area, and important Lincoln news from around the country. It’s well worth checking out daily to keep up on new events.

Another feature is our Study Forum page (“Study Forum” on the menu bar). For many years we’ve had a book discussion group that meets on Saturday morning once a month at the Ford’s Theatre Center for Education and Leadership directly across the street from the historic Ford’s Theatre (where Lincoln was shot) and next door to the Petersen House (where Lincoln died). That book discussion group has evolved into a study group for all things Lincoln, although we still focus on a book as our vehicle for that study. We’ve moved online via Zoom during the past pandemic year, which has allowed Lincoln Group members who live outside the DC area to join us.

Study Forum page

 

Another important section of the new website is the Events page (“Events” on the menu bar). You’ll find brief highlights and bios of upcoming speakers and other events organized by the Lincoln Group. We’ve continued our monthly “dinner” meetings (previously held at Maggiano’s restaurant in the Friendship Heights area of DC) via a series of monthly Zoom meetings. Lincoln Group members have also been featured in events sponsored by the Cosmos Club, the Illinois State Society, the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, and other venues. We’ll continue to work with other Lincoln organizations like ALI, Ford’s Theatre, President Lincoln’s Cottage, the Library of Congress, and the National Archives on future events. We’ve done so much and have plans to do much more, including participating in the Lincoln Memorial Centennial commemorations scheduled for May 2022.

Events page

 

There is much more to see on the new Lincolnian.org website, so click on over and take a look around. And check back regularly for News and other important updates.

One more thing. In a few days I will be taking over as the new president of the Lincoln Group of DC. Our outgoing president, John O’Brien, has done a superhuman job “herding cats” (as one Lincoln Group Board member put it) for the last three years. His guidance and fortitude was especially needed during this past “Year of the COVID.” I’ll have big shoes to fill, but luckily for me and the Lincoln Group, John will be keeping touch with us from “the other DC” (aka, Denver, Colorado). So take a moment to thank John for his leadership. I am personally indebted to him and hope to carry on in his image.

David J. Kent is the author of Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America. His newest Lincoln book is scheduled for release in February 2022. His previous books include Tesla: The Wizard of Electricity and Edison: The Inventor of the Modern World and two specialty e-books: Nikola Tesla: Renewable Energy Ahead of Its Time and Abraham Lincoln and Nikola Tesla: Connected by Fate.

Follow me for updates on my Facebook author page and Goodreads.