David J. Kent's Blog, page 27
April 14, 2020
Lincoln Visits the Ironclad Montauk Hours Before His Assassination
April 14, 1865, Abraham Lincolns last day alive, was a busy one. Included was a visit to the ironclad USS Montauk. Days later his assassins would be held on the same ship. The day started with a welcome visit. Captain Robert Lincoln, the presidents son, returned to the city in... Continue reading
April 11, 2020
Lincoln’s Last Speech and a Call for Voting Rights
On April 11, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln gave his last speech to the public. In it he called for voting rights for African Americans, both those already free and those freed from slavery. It wasnt the first time he called for expansion of voting rights. The speech was occasioned because... Continue reading
April 6, 2020
Lincoln and Viruses on The Railsplitter Podcast
My interview on Lincoln and Viruses is now live on The Railsplitter Podcast. I had been interviewed this past Thursday by Mary, Jeremy, and Nick of the Railsplitter podcast, and the episode (#122) is now on their podcast website. Their podcast has become a must-listen site for all things Lincoln.... Continue reading
March 30, 2020
Lincoln in Japan – Wiegers Calendar March
Travel has been curtailed for the near future due to coronavirus, so I remember my trip to Japan as I look at the March calendar photo from David Wiegers. You can click on these links to see the entries for January (Scotland) and February (Ecuador). March takes us to Asahikawa,... Continue reading
March 25, 2020
That Time Lincoln Got a Virus and Almost Died
Since everyones mind is on the coronavirus, its a good time to remember that Abraham Lincoln once caught a life-threatening virus. As wrote in Lincoln: The Man Who Saved America, this occurred during and after his trip to Gettysburg to give his famous address: As he gave his address, Lincoln... Continue reading
March 17, 2020
Coronavirus Cancellations
Well, the worldwide coronavirus outbreak has certainly caused a lot of disruption lately. Like everyone else, Im social distancing (even more than usual), which means tons of cancellations of upcoming appearances and presentations. I keep a running list on my Media page, but heres a rundown of my immediate schedule:... Continue reading
March 9, 2020
Abraham Lincoln Runs for the Illinois Legislature – And Loses
During Abraham Lincoln’s first year in New Salem he joined a pretentiously named Literary and Debating Society, which was actually an informal discussion group run by James Rutledge. Rutledge was a well-respected leader in town, father of ten children, and proprietor of an inn, Rutledge’s Tavern. He also had an... Continue reading
March 5, 2020
Abraham Lincoln Goes to the Movies – And So Can You: Special AFI Event!
Abraham Lincoln is going to the movies. Granted, his last trip to the theater didn’t work out too well. But AFI – the American Film Institute – brings us a series of movies featuring Abraham Lincoln that everyone will want to see. These are not just any Lincoln movies. “The... Continue reading
February 26, 2020
Coronavirus and the Last Supper in Italy
This week the news hit that the novel coronavirus that has plagued central China continued its expansion around the world, with the northern Italy Lombardy region the hardest hit. A friend in Venice posted a note saying her family opted … Continue reading
February 18, 2020
Mark Twain and Abraham Lincoln
Samuel Clemens, known to most of us by his pseudonym Mark Twain, was born in Hannibal, Missouri on November 30, 1835, shortly after Halley’s Comet had made its regular but rare pass by the Earth. The 26-year-old Abraham Lincoln – … Continue reading
