During a campaign debate with his opponent Stephen Douglas, Lincoln explained defensively that he actually never had "been in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races." He added, "I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people... I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race."But hold on. Read on. Dallek points out Lincoln's thinking evolved beyond the popular beliefs of the day to beget the Emancipation Proclamation and a new definition of freedom for all.
People change. People learn. People don't get it, and then they do. President Lincoln knew all about second chances... and third and fourth ones. He lost several runs for office, and when he did win the presidency, it was in a four-way race with 40 percent of the vote. "That's not a mandate," as Bob Dole would later say about Bill Clinton's plurality win in 1992. But today, people look upon the man who saved the nation, freed the slaves, and demanded reconciliation for the former Confederacy and think: Greatest. President. Ever.
All this came from imperfect beginnings. If only we could say the same of other politicians who start flawed and stay flawed, or worse, start promising and submit to corruption.
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