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| This is believed to be the actual text |
Amidst all the coverage today of the 150th
anniversary of the Gettsyburg Address, Forbes has some standout material thanks
to some history buffs.
anniversary of the Gettsyburg Address, Forbes has some standout material thanks
to some history buffs.
Brian
Domitrovic, a history professor at Sam Houston State in
Texas, notes that if you type the words “Gettysburg
Address overrated” into a Google search, you get basically no hits.
Domitrovic, a history professor at Sam Houston State in
Texas, notes that if you type the words “Gettysburg
Address overrated” into a Google search, you get basically no hits.
“In this day and age,” Domitrovic
wrote, “when (nothing) in an Internet search turns up zilch, it is remarkable
in its own right. That some of the most foundational words in this nation’s — in
modernity’s — history do not find a minimum of web trolls is outright strange.
wrote, “when (nothing) in an Internet search turns up zilch, it is remarkable
in its own right. That some of the most foundational words in this nation’s — in
modernity’s — history do not find a minimum of web trolls is outright strange.
“It would appear that there is an
English-language consensus that the Gettysburg Address — the brief and
ultra-famous speech that Abraham Lincoln gave 150 years ago today, on November
19, 1863 — remains a paragon of political oratory.”
English-language consensus that the Gettysburg Address — the brief and
ultra-famous speech that Abraham Lincoln gave 150 years ago today, on November
19, 1863 — remains a paragon of political oratory.”
Domitrovic then wades into dangerous territory that may bring the trolls out in force – he offers a detailed
critique of the president’s text.
critique of the president’s text.
The Lincoln speech certainly has
outlasted the remarks given that same day by Edward Everett. According to Nathan Raab, a historical consultant, the Keynote Speaker at the Gettysburg ceremony was
not Lincoln but Everett, the former Secretary of State, who gave a 2-hour speech, which he memorized.
outlasted the remarks given that same day by Edward Everett. According to Nathan Raab, a historical consultant, the Keynote Speaker at the Gettysburg ceremony was
not Lincoln but Everett, the former Secretary of State, who gave a 2-hour speech, which he memorized.
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| This is the only photo of Lincoln speaking |
It’s bizarre to think that, at a wartime event marking
the creation of a cemetery for the fallen at the battle of Gettysburg, the
president would serve as a secondary speaker. Historical letters have
indicated that Everett told Lincoln afterward that he wished he could have said
something as profound in his two hours as the president did in about two
minutes.
the creation of a cemetery for the fallen at the battle of Gettysburg, the
president would serve as a secondary speaker. Historical letters have
indicated that Everett told Lincoln afterward that he wished he could have said
something as profound in his two hours as the president did in about two
minutes.
While many Americans who have not read the iconic address
since high school have forgotten that the text consists of just 10 sentences and the speech lasted just a few minutes, one
well-worn myth about Lincoln’s actions that day still survives.
since high school have forgotten that the text consists of just 10 sentences and the speech lasted just a few minutes, one
well-worn myth about Lincoln’s actions that day still survives.
Raab wrote that many of us were taught that Lincoln
hurriedly scrawled the speech on the train to Gettysburg the day of his
address. Not true. While it’s unclear which of the early drafts contains
the words actually spoken by Lincoln, Raab pointed out that the tale of the quick
jotting by the president was spread by a work of fiction published in 1906, “The
Perfect Tribute,” by Mary Raymond Shipman.
hurriedly scrawled the speech on the train to Gettysburg the day of his
address. Not true. While it’s unclear which of the early drafts contains
the words actually spoken by Lincoln, Raab pointed out that the tale of the quick
jotting by the president was spread by a work of fiction published in 1906, “The
Perfect Tribute,” by Mary Raymond Shipman.
*****
You might also want to take a look at today’s story by The Macomb Daily’s Don Gardner, who explains why a speech that has received such adulation almost never happened.
