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March
7: 150th Anniversary of
Lincoln’s
Inaugural Observed at Lincoln Memorial
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President Lincoln
delivers his second inaugural address in front of the US Capitol in 1865
|
Washington,
DC – February 2015 / Newsmaker Alert / Chuck Todd, moderator of NBC’s
Meet the Press and former chief White House correspondent for NBC News,
will deliver the keynote address for a commemoration of the 150th anniversary
of Abraham Lincoln’s second inauguration. The ceremony, sponsored by the
National
Park Service and the Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia, will
take place on Saturday, March 7 at 9:30 a.m. at the Lincoln
Memorial and is free and open to the public
Todd
will discuss the political climate in the United States at the time of
the March 4, 1865, inauguration, one of the most notable in American history.
Other speakers will include Dr. Lucas Morel, Associate Professor of Politics
at Washington and Lee University, speaking on Lincoln’s second inaugural
address;and Dr. Edna Greene Medford, professor and chair of Howard University’s
Department of History’s graduate and undergraduate programs, who will reflect
on the transition from Civil War to the struggle for Civil Rights for all
Americans as the conflict came to an end.
“With
the Civil War drawing to a close, Abraham Lincoln used the platform of
his second inauguration to deliver a message of reconciliation and hope
for the future of the United States,” said Karen Cucurullo, acting superintendent
of National Mall and Memorial Parks.”On the 150th anniversary of the event,
we pause to not only recall its significance in American history, but also
to examine its continuing relevancy a century and a half later.”
“Abraham
Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address, which many say is his greatest speech,
is timeless and relevant to not only our nation, but around the world,”
said Karen Needles, president of the Lincoln Group of D.C., and director
of the Lincoln Archives Digital Project. “Abraham Lincoln truly is a man
for all time.”
The
program will also include a recreation of Abraham Lincoln delivering his
Second Inaugural Address, and the administration of the oath of office
by Chief Justice of the United States Salmon P. Chase. Music will be provided
by the Military District of Washington and multi-instrumentalist, composer,
producer, and music historian Bobby Horton.
Also
taking place on March 7 are family activities highlighting life in Washington,
D.C., during the Civil War. The Washington Monument grounds will be the
scene of four activity stations from noon to 5 p.m. that will explore different
aspects of life in the capital city during the war. Using excerpts from
the diary of Mary Henry, a 27-year old resident of Washington during the
war, the activities will explore technology, service to country, fun and
games, and the legacy of the war. The activities are free and pre-registration
is not required. Participants can pick up an activity book from any of
the four stations and those completing all four activities will receive
a blank journal, similar to the one used by Mary Henry.
About
Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inauguration
On
November 4, 1864, Abraham Lincoln became the sixth United States president
to be re-elected to the White House, defeating Democratic challenger George
B. McClellan. Lincoln won the electoral vote 221-12 and carried 55% of
the popular vote. The election was notable in that the electoral process
continued unimpaired despite the ongoing Civil War, a testimony to the
democratic system of government and the United States Constitution.
His
inauguration on March 4, 1865 took place on the East Portico of the Capitol
under clearing skies following more than a quarter inch of rain that fell
around daybreak. The ceremony began with Lincoln delivering the inaugural
address, one of the most famous speeches in American history in which he
outlined his vision for the reunification of the country following the
imminent end of the war:”With malice toward none;with charity for all…”
After the address, Lincoln was administered the oath of office by Chief
Justice of the United States Salmon P. Chase.
Learn
more about Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address
www.nps.gov/linc/learn/historyculture/lincoln-second-inaugural.htm
About
the National Park Service
More
than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 405 national
parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local
history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Visit us at
www.nps.gov,
on Facebook www.facebook.com/nationalparkservice,
Twitter www.twitter.com/natlparkservice,
and YouTube www.youtube.com/nationalparkservice.
About
the Lincoln Group
The
Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia was founded in 1935 to study
the life and leadership of Abraham Lincoln;to engage new generations in
understanding his dedication to equality and liberty under law and his
attitude “with malice toward none, with charity for all;” and to educate
about his vision “that government of the people, by the people, and for
the people shall not perish from the earth.”Visit us at www.lincolngroup.org,
at Facebook.com/LincolnGroupDC,
and Twitter at twitter.com/LGDC2.
Contacts:
Mike
Litterst (NPS)
202-245-4676
Karen
Needles
Lincoln
Group of DC
240-462-9802 |