What Would Lincoln Do?

Alternative event location is First Congregational Church of Christ (945 G Street NW) if the government shutdown continues through Tuesday.

He’s one of the most revered, if not the most enigmatic, of our presidents, heralded for his bold leadership in ending slavery and mending a broken Union.  And he’s one of the most invoked.  From calling for action in response to chemical attacks in Syria to criticizing the size of the national debt, Honest Abe has become the voice of reason that politicians and pundits love to quote.

But has Lincoln’s legacy been abused? And what, if any, lessons can we take from the trials and wisdom of our 16th president and apply to the issues that plague our divided nation  today?

Join the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, Dickinson College, the Ford’s Theatre Society, and the New America Foundation as they host a range of presidential scholars for a modern debate about whether the Lincoln they know would accept how he is being used over 150 years after he assumed the presidency.

This event is free. Advance tickets may be reserved via Ticketmaster (fees apply) or at the Ford's Theatre Box Office.

The panel is part of the, "Understanding Lincoln" online course from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History and the House Divided Project at Dickinson College and is co-sponsored by the Ford's Theatre Society and the New America Foundation. 

Participants