Lincoln: A Failure?

There is a popular poster or broadside that has circulated for years about Lincoln's failures. I have noticed that he did not consider himself a failure, nor did most of those who knew him. So investigating this a bit, I have found the following "problems" with the broadside. This broadside makes nice fodder for motivational seminars and graduation speeches, but Lincoln actually was considered a fairly successful politician in Illinois, and a leader of the Whig party in his state, as well as a successful lawyer.

In bold type below is what the “Failure” broadside lists as “Lincoln’s failures”. Following are my observations in italics.

1831 ‑ 22 yrs. ‑ defeated in business

Not exactly, his father moved south because of bad weather.

1832 ‑ 23 yrs. ‑ defeated for the house

Only because of his Black Hawk War involvement. And he actually made a pretty good political showing for having been gone for three months. He later described this defeat as "the only time I was ever defeated by a direct vote of the people."

1834 ‑ 25 yrs. ‑ failed in business

His partner died, probably of alcohol abuse. His store did close, but so did the town it was in, New Salem. Lincoln took up the whole debt & eventually paid it. There was a failure here, but not Lincoln's.

1834 ‑ 25 yrs ‑ He was elected to the Illinois State House of Representatives. (Not mentioned in the broadside.)

1836 ‑ 27 yrs. ‑ nervous breakdown (supposedly because of Ann Rutledge’s death.)

Many scholars believe this to be a tale of Wm. Herndon, probably not true and designed to hurt the widow of Abraham, with whom Herndon had never gotten along well. Probably it was deep sadness; he did know Ann Rutledge and had lived at the Rutledge tavern, which was like an inn. It certainly is debatable. My thought is, even by today's standards and young man generally will not attempt to court a woman engaged to marry another man - even if that man is absent for a time. How much more true under Victorian standards of behavior, and especially with Lincoln who tended to be very shy around women of his own age.

1836 ‑ 27 yrs.‑ Elected to Illinois House. (Not mentioned in the broadside.)

1838 ‑ 29 yrs. ‑ lost an election

As Speaker of the Illinois House, instead, he was elected Floor Leader. (Election not mentioned in the broadside.)

1840 ‑ 31 yrs. ‑ Elected to Illinois House. (Not mentioned in the broadside.)

1842 ‑ 33 yrs. ‑ Elected to Illinois House. (Not mentioned in the broadside.)

1843 ‑ 34 yrs. ‑ lost congressional race

Actually he had wanted to run, but chose not to run. He urged party unity with the "House divided" quote from the Bible, and was a delegate for Edward Baker, who won. The arrangement thereafter was that first it would be Baker, then Hardin in '44, then Lincoln in '46.

1846 ‑ 37 yrs. ‑ ran for office and lost

I don't know of any office he lost, but he did win the election for U.S. Congress. (Not mentioned in the broadside.)

1848 ‑ 39 yrs. ‑ ran for office and lost

He simply was not a candidate for Congress after his term was up. That was the agreed-upon arrangement. He did however, labor to get an appointment as Commissioner of the General Land office at Wash. D.C., and didn't get appointed.

1855 ‑ 46 yrs. ‑ lost senate race

Willingly deferred his 15 loyal Whig votes to Trumbull (an anti‑Nebraska Democrat who had bolted from the party), for the sake of his anti‑Nebraska sentiments, and to defeat Gov. Joel Matteson, a pro‑Nebraska Douglas Democrat. It worked. A triumph of character.

1856 ‑ 47 yrs. ‑ unsuccessful in his bid for the vice presidency

He didn't "bid" for anything, or seem to mind losing. He got 110 votes in the Philadelphia Republican convention to Dayton's 259, for VP to John C. Fremont. Lincoln's response was laughter, and the comment: "It must have been some other ‘Lincoln!".

1858 ‑ 49 yrs. ‑ lost senate race

That he did, but by the Illinois state legislature’s final vote, not the popular vote; he actually won the popular vote. The ability of state legislatures to make the final decision and thus override the popular vote for the U.S. Senatorial elections was lost in 1913 under Woodrow Wilson with the 17th amendment. Originally the U. S. Senate was meant to represent the states’ interests in Washington, and the House the peoples’ interests. U.S. Senators were supposed to be concerned for states' rights as states, and protect against loss of local control, thus were subject to state legislatures. Prior to the 17th amendment, U. S. Senators discussed federal affairs with State Governments regularly, since they were beholden to them. Since that time they have been beholden to large donors, such as corporations.

1860 ‑ 51 yrs. ‑ became president of the United States – Abraham Lincoln

Yup.

HOME

(Background image by Lloyd Ostendorf. Used with permission from the late Mr. Ostendorf.)