benedict arnold. washington's response to arnold's plan to deliver west point to the british. that's at 8:55 p.m. eastern time on saturday here on cspan 3. we continue our coverage of a symposium on the 1864 presidential election. thomas horrocks looks at lincoln's campaign biographies and outlines his qualifications and personal life. he also emphasizes how public opinion changed throughout the campaign. >> let me begin by waving his book, tom horrocks has written a book on lincoln's campaign biographers. tom is the director of the john hay library. john hay was one of lincoln's two secretaries. tom holds a phd in history from

the university of pennsylvania, and is the author of six books including popular print and popular medicine, health advice in early american almanacs, then the living live con. president james buchanan and the crisis of national leadership. lincoln campaign biographies is his most recent book, and his currently editing a book called annotated lincoln. let me present tom horrocks. hello, everyone, can you hear me? i'm going to be showing some slides of several campaigns of lincoln's biographies of the 1860s. i need to talk a little bit

about the '60 campaign biographies to put the 1864 campaign biographies into context. there's two points that i want to make at the outset. one is the close relationship between the world of politics, many newspapers were aligned with the political party, newspapers and their editors were openly partisan, this is a trefbtd that began in the 1920s, when newspapers became the favorite prichblt media. newspapers were part of an extensive and powerful publishing industry that emerged in the first half of the 19 hth century, aided bied a mans vancements in communication, technology and transportation, increasing literacy and the spread of mass education and the rise of an urban middle class consumer. with the expansion of voting rights for white males, more and more americans became interested

and involved in the political process. politicians had to adjust to this trend. they now had to excite for votes of a larger population of eligible voters many levels in the decades prior to the civil war, aligning one's paper with political party and producing pamphlets and other genras of print, provided noltd only financial backing and remuneration, but it could auchbd did lead to a lucrative patron naj appointment or reid to a lucrative career for push lisher and editor. then it became essential for a political party to understand and take advantage of the power of print in order to have a chance of success, especially on the national legal.

one did not seek public office for interest or personal gain. one accepted this office for the public good. it was perceived as virtuous to sacrifice one's private life to serve the public good. in other words the office sought the candidate, not the other way around. it was up to the political parties to promote them and craft and dissem nature a message to energize and mobilize voters. by lincoln's time, political parties had become quite adept at these essential tafgs, it enormously by decades of party enumeration.

helped enormously in elects lincoln president in 1860. l lincoln and his image had to be packaged. in 1860 and in 1864, the most productive way to do this was through the printed word and image. various genres of print, sheet music, songsters and cartoons

circulated widely, involving powerful images associated with lincoln, hard work and dignity of free labor and the west is a land where rugged individualism, economic opportunity and the principles of democracy came together. the republican party was involved in much of this activity, either directly or indirectly in a network of partisan newspapers and publishers and use of congressional franking privileges. recall what i said at the beginning, concerning the rise of the publishing industry and the various vac fors that aided its rise, by the 1840s, commercial firms and entrepreneurs were also active in -- not so much competing against political corporations as aiding and abetting them, commercial publishing houses pursued for the most part an

agenda that was driven by profit rather than politics, whereas political organizations, commercial firms tendinged to be nonpartisan, publishing books and engravings of sheet music that supported every candidate in the race. after all it was good business sense to meet customers regardless of their political per situation. it is the image that one encounters frequently in the various forms of print in the months between lincoln's nomination in may and the november 1860 election. most americans who encountered various genres of print would have linked lincoln to the log cabin birth, but not appreciated the larger context of the

symbol's meaning. 19th century americans seeking information involving presidential candidates had at their disposal various political matter. campaign biographies provided in one place. the genre emerged during the 1824 campaign between john quincy adams and andrew jackson and it has appeared in one form or another in every campaign sense. the purpose of campaign biographies was to prevent a positive portrait of the candidate, one that would resonate with voters. they reproduced by political parties, partisan newspapers and their editors and nonpartisan

publishers and commercial firms, taking advantage of -- they were composed by anonymous party hacks, newspaper editors or journalists or budding writers. campaign biographies were presented as being objective and free of partisanship, offering only facts culled from interviews with friends, publiced speeches or the public record. authors tended to present themselves as nonpartisan admirers of the candidate, bringing and edifying inspiring stories of the candidates out of public duty. candidates sometimes initiated or participated in private with the production of these campaign biographies. lincoln, for example, wrote two all t auto biographical story knowing

they would be included in a campaign biography. they were produced rather quickly, usually within weeks of when a candidate was nominated. and the first one to appear, usually served as the chief source for those that followed. they ranged in length from a one-page newspaper arm to a six to eight page pamphlet, to 200 page books issued both in paper to cloth bound ranging in price for anything from 25 cents for paper wrappers to a dollar for a cloth bound book. they were distributed and sold either individually or in bulk from publishing houses, traveling agents or coal porters. once purchased, they were then

shared hand to hand among friends. and i suspect that a number of these were bought in bulk by political parties and then given out free at political rallies. there was a set formula by the time of lincoln's elections in 1860 and 1864. the candidate's life is presented as one worth emulating, a life story presented in a series of episodes, a life shaped by certain factors considered essential to a moral and virtuous life. in 1860. there were 16 lincoln campaign biographies and i'll show you just a sample of those right now. this is the first lincoln campaign biography that appeared in book form. this is one by barrett. i'm just going to go through these quickly. but you get a sense of what they look like. and virtually all of them included a piece of lincoln's

image because this is a time when people didn't actually get to see a candidate unless they saw them in person, to see what they looked like. the honest abe rail splitter image that lincoln promoted by his campaign biographies was countered by positive images of his three opponents. and of course there was also anti-lincoln stories that were circulated. when lincoln ran for re-election in 1864, the political landscape changed dramatically for hifl and for the nation. the purpose of his 1864 biographical accounts, unlike their 1860 counterparts was not to introduce lincoln to voters, but to endorse lincoln as a president who had led the nation

through a long civil war. both revered and reviled in the southern states, lincoln by the summer of 1864 was in trouble politically, his chances for re-election appeared to be slipping away as casualties continued to mount at a shocking rate. the democratic party was gaining the upper hand on its pro war counterparts, while convincing a growing number of northerners that lincoln was not only waging a vengeful, brutal war against americans but was shedding the constitution as powers of the president sichlt as proof they pointed to the emancipation proclamation of those who side by the confederacy. as democratic hopes of defeating lincoln rose significantly in the summer of 1864, republicans even art denlt supporters of the president grow increasingly

reresponsiveness denlt. weeks before the republican convention. and there were even some who were looking toward benjamin butler. despite doubts concerning his election, lincoln was nominated on his first ballot of the republican convention held in baltimore in early june. his adept patron naj and shrewd.

>> replaced vice president has been lyn with war democrat andrew johnson as lincoln's running mate. the tide is setting strongly against us, raymond responded, reported despondently and nothing but the most resolute and decided action on the part of the government and its friends can say the country from falling into hostile hands. on august 24, the day after reading ray monday's disheartening account, lincoln received his memorandum.

these clouds were disbursed in the gloom permeating the lincoln re-election campaign was lifted by the news of general williams s succumbs to sherman. supporters of both the president and mcclellan engaged in both a tense and bitter campaign. dictatorship under a fire rant or in the elevation of a traitor to the presidency. lincoln had many -- lincoln had many national, state and local party leaders working on his

behalf and friendly editors mobilizing support. his speeches and public letters were put to use in 1864 by his campaign managers, political supporters and commercial firms to remind voters of where he stood on the issues. the task of republican party operatives as well as commercial firms promoting lincoln's re-election were quite different than four years earlier. however, when their candidate was an obscure western lawyer unknown to many americans. the honest abe rail splitter image promoted to voters in 1860 was itself inadequate four years later n 1964, lincoln required new introduction, moreover lincoln's opponents through editorials, speeches and cartoons had been defining him for years as an uncouth hick, an incompetent commander in chief, a tyrant intent to destroying

the country. the honest abe rail splitter image was by no means ignored, however. by 1864, this the image served as a platform or foundation on which biographies issued a new image, appropriate for the time. thus campaign managers, the republican. lincoln's first term as president, reminding voters as virtues and. broad sides, posters, pamphlet, sheet music, cartoons and newspapers served as channels through which to the political parties communicated their message and mobilized their

constituencies constituencies various genres of print -- as expected, campaign biographies of both lincoln and mcclellan flooded the market in the months preceding the election. ten lyn con biographies were published in 1864, with nine of these accounts included on material -- before his presidency. two and possibly four of these works were issued before lincoln's official renomination, either signaling confidence or concern about his chances. most included engraved portraits of president and excerpts of his letters, speeches and proclamations, one of the first 1864 campaign biographies to appear was from henry j. ray monday, editor of the "new york times" as well as the chair of -- his history of the administration of president

lincoln, sanctioned and aided by the white house was published sometime in may before the national union party. held ills convention on june 8. with less than 50 of the 496 pages devoted to lincoln's life before 1864, raymond's books was intended to place the president's actions and words -- although advertised as impartial, truthful and the standard account of lincoln's administration by the publisher derby and miller, it was considered -- it was, considering it's author and it's sponsor anything but impartial. after lincoln was renominated, ray monday expanded the biographical account that appeared in his history of the administration for a smaller and less expensive publication, and that is the image you see before you.

the life of abraham lincoln issued in paper wrappers, published in separate editions by the new york publishing house of derby and miller and the national union executive committee, the book consists of 136 pages including john savage's 50-page biography of andrew johnson. joseph barrett, the former editor of the cincinnati daily gazzette, and author of an 1860 cam pain biography, produced a work which included with slight modifications an earlier account of lincoln's life with a history of his presidency in the first months of 18964. the philadelphia publishing house of t.d. peterson and others before the national union party assembled in baltimore, written by the philadelphia journalist david braynard

williamson, this biography was issue in the both paper and cloth editions. another biography that appeared before lincoln's nomination, was written by orville james victor, the editor and roadwayer for beetle and company's various ventures. the private and public live of abrah abraham lyn lincoln's -- beetle company's dime biographical library, was published as a small paper back which could fit into a reader's pocket. the cover of the volume pictures lincoln as a boy honing his reading skills by the light of a home fire. one can achieve success through determination, hard work and perseverance, although the intended purpose of lincoln's biography was intended to present his life as a moral

lesson, it also served as another purpose, promoting the president's re-election, one historian asserts that this little booklet was popular among union soldiers, some of whom were avid readers of several of the -- lincoln published after his renomination include the life of abraham lincoln, a 30-page pamphlet entitled the working man's reasons for re-election of abraham lincoln and the character and public services of abraham lincoln by newspaper editor and author of juvenile books, william -- the image of lincoln and his party shaped and promoted in 1864 was of a president who faced the most serious crisis in the nation's history, and through coolness and confidence,

resolve, and competence leadership held the rebillion in check--for most of lincoln's biograph biographers, the image of the honest rail splitting man of the people was still relevant as it was used to explain lincoln's success as president. many biographers contend that lincoln's character was as essential to his success as president as it was before his life in 1860. in their view, one could not appreciate lincoln's strength of character without understanding his humble upbringing and the many struggles of his early life. surely the successes of his early life were harbingers of triumph. the elements of character that adorned his youth and blossomed into golden manhood, he asserts, prefigured his successful administration of national affairs as a ruler of the american republic. victor expands on this theme,

resurrecting the image of lincoln's hard work and disciplined self-education. lincoln's character, molded by the rugged environment prepared him for the extrortdary challenges of the presidency, as one biographer notes, no president ever encountered the same difficulties which mitt with the president since the day of his administration. ray monday and other biographers agreed. no one of his predecessors, not even washington raymond argues, encountered any one of equal mag tied or was called to perform duties of equal magnitude. elected by a minority of the popular vote, with his election blamed by some as the cause of the civil war, lincoln was called upon to address the momentous crisis, a task that

proved to be one of the most gigantic that ever fell to the head of any other president. his responsibilities were so difficult, or so great or whose path was so beset by danger. war had broke out in the country which so long had lapped in the blessings of peace, plenty and security that it was wholly unprepared for war. lincoln's success in managing a long and bloody war and its achievements, especially concerning emancipation are attributed to several character traits he brought to the presidency. many biographers point to the president's honesty and integrity, as integral to securing the trust of the people of the north. according to barrett, lincoln's policy has been fully set forth in his own words. no dissem blg, no incenterity

gives the least false tinge to any of his public papers. this frank confiding way of his, has given him a hold upon the popular heart and upon the love of true men such as few states men have ever had. by universal acclaim, he is honest old abe writes another biographers, and in the midst of the trial and tribulations of the civil war, there is one man who the people felt would never betray them and that was their own president. this sentiment was echoed by ray monday who contends that no man was open to suspicion, no matter what might have been his ables or his experience. could possibly have attained enough of the public confidence to carry the country through such a contest as that in which we are now involved. because no one suspected lincoln of abusing the powers of his

office, the expense -- at the expense of his country's liberties, the people of the north lavishly and eagerly conferred upon him their trust and loyalty. he gives thank to a good providence for send the people a ruler whose honesty is as clear as the sun and fair as the moon and to our mall leg nachblt toes. the people trust and support lincoln because he is perceived as one of them. he speaks the language of the common people, declares ray mond monday, no thought or purpose but that of making everybody understand precisely what he believes and means to utter. fair too,ed a mirror rabably lincoln's connection to ordinary

people. he appears to regard his fellow men as equals and acts upon the principle that neither office nor honor can add true worth to manhood, despite holding the highest office in the land lincoln is as congenial as he ever was. lincoln was more than a friend to ordinary americans, he also served as a father figure, especially to the young soldier who is donned the young form toll fight bravely for the union cause. lincoln's admiration, respect and simply for soldiers is why the president is endeared to our loyal army. and a bond of mutual love and respect is cherished between them.

lincoln's close relationship with the common soldier, some of whom referred to him as father abraham, rose in importance as an issue after democrats 234078 natured general george mcclel n mcclell mcclellan. other highlights are coolness in the face of set backs, resolve under fire from both radical republicans and democratic copper heads, a superior intellect and according to one writer, a student of providence, a key to lincoln's success in the opinion of theyer, is his willingness to acknowledge the hand of god in events. more over, he is a man without moral stain, since his habits are as simple and pure today as they were in his early manhood, a man who never smokes, never uses intoxicating drinks, never utters a profang worth or engages in a game of chance is

unusual in the political world. the president's moral and pious habits protect him against the seductions of office or honor. most buyographers move beyond to linking him to his actions as president. his strong character molded on the western frontier, molded by self-education, prepared lincoln to pursue the manltal of leadership. lincoln's model of the war, his emancipation proclamation and his institution of the draft are vigorously defended. his emancipation proclamation is -- inaugurated as a new era in the progress of the war, and aland mark in the nation's history of -- the

proclamation -- who now saw the complete overthrow of the slave holder's conspiracy. ray monday contends that although lincoln's proclamation had not accomplished all that it expected to do, its drew to our side more unmistakably, the sympathies of friends and freedom everywhere and shut up the path of those friends of rebellion. in addition, it brought thousands of courageous blacks into the union army. another biographer considers the preliminary and final versions of the proclamation the two most important proclamations ever pen bid a president of the united states. december -- his use of the war powers in his office against confederate sympathizers in the north, two buyographers go out of their way to ensure their

readers that the president was evenflo radical. ray monday, no radical himself claims that lincoln consistently stood up to radical republicans as well as to democratic copper heads while per suing a moderate course. his policy has been from the outset, a temperate one, refersry monday, as all policies of government must be always b theyer echoes his sentiment, declaring that lincoln with two violent factions has pursued an even handed course that has disarmed their animosity and resulted in greater harmony. campaign biographers are quick to point out that lincoln's politically astute course on issues such as emancipation and habeas corpus and the draft are supported by a large majority of northerners. the power exercise by president

lincoln in the writ of habeas corpus gives uneasiness in a class of men who intend to obstruct the government. but the measure was fully sustain bid the people. not surprisingly, all of lincoln's campaigned a vie -- all stress however that lincoln's work is not complete. the war must be won, the union must endure. the nation's future depens on the re-election of lincoln. frapp for example one biographer urges the president be given a chance to continue his work. justice demands a fair trial for his policy and that cannot be had without his re-election for a second term. after all, the writer argues, lincoln's re-election would secure the restore ration of the union by behrendering the most fatal of blows to the hopes of the rebels. theyer warns against changing

presidents in a time of war. after all to change our president in the face of the enemy would be as suicidal as to change a competent general on the eve of a battle. lincoln deserves reelection because he has grappled with the greatest crisis in american history and yet has maintained under firm and resolute guidance a government that stands forth today as a model of national forbearance to chance the admiration of the world. and he is qualified to do even better during his second term because he is now, he has now that best of all qualifications experience. he has become acquainted with the machine and know house to run it. lincoln contends another buyographer has proved himself equal to the emergency facing the nation. he has been tried and not found wanting. and no better return for the pearls encountered, the labors

accomplished and the benefits derived to the country than to his reelection. this positive image of lincoln, man of the people, who had become a trusted father figure, conveyed through the campaign biographies as well as other genres of print was countered by an opposing image designed by his critics, to a despot -- establish equal rights for blacks, and sub jew gate the southern people. harsh criticism came from not only democrats, but from those within his own party, republicans condemned him for being too slow on emancipation, waging the soft war on the south, and pursuing what they considered a too lenient reconstruction policy. the most vitriolic staults on

less than con's character came from the democrats, blasting his defense of the emancipation proclamation and many others deemed unconstitutional abuses of executive power. many anti-lincoln -- one pamphlet uses buying sarcasm that calls lincoln an infidel. this publication poses a series of questions and provides answers that lampoon lincoln as

a dictator intent on forcing on the american people emancipation and other dispottic atrocities. attacks such as these played on white americans' fears of racial equality took a toll on lincoln's standing with the american public, especially as casualties and defeats on the battlefield continued to mount. but while the increasing effectiveness of the democrats' anti-lincoln campaign may have weakened the president's prospects for re-election, their strong anti war stance caused sfafb significant problems for the party's nominee, mcclellan. along with commercial publishing firms oversaw the disstem nation of pro mcclellan publications,

including ten campaign biographies as well as anti-lincoln materials as you see here. the image of mcclellan promoted by his campaign biographies is that of a devoted patriot, a genuine war hero, a man of strong character, who will end the war with honor, reunite the country, protect individual liberties and reject fanatical attempts to rearrange the social order by forcing equal rights for black. of course we know the outcome of the 1864 electioelection, linco re-elected by a wide electoral margin over his democratic opponent and carrying 22 states with 212 electoral votes to mcclellan's three states, 21 electoral votes. so let me conclude about the role of campaign biographies, both in 60 and in 64. the honest abe rail splitter

image of lincoln was appealing to many northern voters, particularly those residing in the western states. it was one to many americans living in similar circumstances, could relate. the republican party's nomination in 1860, the rustic ax wielding self-made western man of the people captured the attention of the publishing industry and commercial firms. several publishers sensing the rags to almost riches stories of lincoln's life would be profoundly appealing to consumers, issued campaign biographies of his -- it appears that judging by the appearances of multiple editions and variants, a few of these biographies sold well. that several of these publications regularly appear in today's market indicates that at least two or three had large print runs, indicating the publisher's assumption that they would sell. while the cloth editions of

lincoln's campaign biographies averaging a dollar in price were beyond the financial reach of most americans, those issued in paper wrappers, averaging 25 credibili cents were affordable to m when lincoln ran for reelection in 1864, he was no longer an unknown western lawyer. in the wake of several controversial measures, lincoln required no introduction, thus the honest abe rail splitter image, though inadequate by itself for the 1864 election retained its apale and more importancely it's relevance, the image of 1860 was rez recollected by his byographers to remind voters to the qualities that initially endeared them to voters and how these actions informed him as president. the man who had become the

beloved and trusted father figure to low pressure system northerners brought to the -- marked by courage, confidence, integrity and resolve that was shaped by the western frontier. lincoln's campaign biographers for the most part conform -- biographies for the most part conform to the formula -- the same can also be said about doug, breckenridge and others of mcclellan's opponents in 1864. lincoln's life story, like that of all virtuous and moral men was inspiring and worth emulating. there was a slight divergence from the norm in lincoln's 1864 biographies, however. in these works, lincoln's life's

work is used in as a backdrop to a spirited defense of his presidency. the positive images of lincoln supported by his -- were challenged by competing images in both elections, not only were there campaign u biographies of his opponents, but there were is scores of anti-lincoln images and symbols, accessible to voters, by 1864, a tax on lincoln and his administration had become as vitriolic as they had become common place. what happened effect these competing images and messages have on americans perceptions of -- what role did lincoln's campaign biographies did -- one can safely assume that lincoln's campaign biographies resonated with voters -- did they energize and convince enough vetters to make a difference in the outcome of these elections?

answering these questions requires documentation and evidence that are unfortunately frustratingly elusive to the historian. sales figures for lincoln's campaign biographies as well as his opponents are virtually nonexistent. we do not know how many of these works were printed, let alone sold. but even if these prant runs and sales were available, they would not provide the ed that gets to the heart of the questions posed above. how many people read the biographies. what did they take away from the reading experience. and what actions or reactions did these publications inspire? it is often difficult to induce how people read and what altitudes they brought to or took away from the reading experience. what evidence does exist is anecdotal and fragmented. in this us stance, all one can do is infer or speculate based

on the meager evidence at hand. in terms of the 1860 election, there were indications that several of lincoln's biographies sold well. more over the image of lincoln promoted by his biographies as well as through other genres of prichblt appeared to -- adorn broad sides, posters, sheet music, banners and other campaign materials, the rail splitter image was popular with the republican party faithful and embraced by the commercial sector. and that image has endured. in scores of prints and eng gravings, movies and various works of art. in fact the abraham lincoln vampire slayer, the weapon of choice is the ax. in case you have scene it. to reiterate, some voters would have been introduced to lincoln

and his life story through reading a campaign biography and some would have voted for lincoln based on the biographical event they read. by did campaign biographies make a difference in the 1964 campaign? they could not have hurt and undoubted helped lincoln's chances. but the inspiring biographies was some of several elements that worked in a candidate's failure. with a pretty among democrats and the presence of a third party candidate. the growing popularity of the north and west of the republican message of free labor and free soil, prohibiting slavery in the territories, support for improvements and the issue of corruption in the bu can man administration. in addition voters who showed up at the polls and voted for

lincoln may have -- one wonders however what the outcome of the election of the 1860s would have been if there was no constitutional union party to nominate john bell. and in 1864, would lincoln have been re-elected if sherman had not captured atlanta when he did? would the father of abraham campaign biographies have convinced voters to stick with the man they voted for in 1860. the answer to several questions concerning the impact of lincoln's cam pain biographies does not lessen the value of these publications in terms of what we can learn from them. this underappreciated and unstudied genre provides a lens through which scholars can examine what party leaders, commercial firms, the american

reading public and in some cases candidates 24e89ss thought were the essential qualities of character and leadership in a particular time in our history. in 1860 and 1864, an american voter seeking information regarding lincoln, the candidate or refresher course on lincoln, the president had several forms of print at their disposal. of these, the excampaign biogray was one source that provided the most extensive amount of information concerning his life. it would be foolish of course to claim that lincoln's campaign biographies were the deciding factor in his electoral victories. one can argue, however, that at the very least, these works both re-enforced and shaped readers positive asusumptions and views of lincoln, introduced him to new voters and perhaps changed the mind of those who were unsure or unwary of the man who

in 1860 was touted as honest abe the rail splitter, or in 1864 as father abraham. thank you. any questions? >> nominated, for example, did stewart have a campaign biography in 1860? >> most were produced right after the nominee of the party was named. on occasion, there were some that were published before the nominating convention, and that was in a sense to help generate support for that candidate at the nominating convention. or they were produced because there was an assumption that a particular candidate would be nominated. you mentioned sword.

there was a boston firm that published a lincoln campaign biography in 1860, when lincoln was nominated, they already had in press a in press a campaign biography for seward because they assumed he was the nominee of the party, so of course they had to scrap that and quickly put together a biography of lincoln. yes. >> the candidate biographers, were they always narrative or did they use cartoon-like strips. >> no, they were all narrative. i mean -- let me change that. there were a couple biographies that were produced for lincoln in 1860 that were spoofs. they weren't really pro or anti-lincoln. it was more -- they were produced more as a joke. i don't include those, but they do have -- they are illustrated

with sort of cartoonist-like depictions of lincoln. but, no, in general they were pretty straight forward narrative biographies, including selections of speeches of the particular candidate on the various issues. that's right. that's right. yes. right there. >> what percentage of the population in 1864 and separately in 1860 were literate so they would be able to read these biographies and what percentage -- >> the census of 1850 -- according to the census of 18 r50 the white litsy rate was 90%. >> and how widely distributed were the various campaign biographies? would they go to like 5% of the population, 25% of the population? >> that's a good question. that i can't answer and that's one of the things that i mentioned here in terms of learning about how they were

distributed and how many sold, how many were printed, we just don't have that kind of information. yes, right in the front row here. >> were some of these biograp biographies difficult for you to find? did you have to go into people's trunks and attics or were they fairly well preserved and accessible? >> some of them were well preserved. those that were bound in cloth were in much better shape. those that are still in existence and their paper wrappers have been preserved are much more expensive on the market than cloth bound because you get a lot of information from the paper wrappers, not only is there usually an image of the candidate, but it will give you the price of the campaign biography and it also may have other things like the authorized edition even though there were no authorized lincoln editions or, you know, the wig

wom edition or something like that which you wouldn't normally have if somebody had it bound in cloth and the paper wrappers were lost. yes. >> how much, if any, attention was paid to his personal life, his married life or the death of his son to evoke sympathy? >> as i said, there was a formula for biographies. by lincoln's time, very little was said about their domestic life, their private life. occasionally there will be something said briefly about the candidate's spouse and children, but in lincoln's case, the little that was said about mary lincoln was actually positive in 1860. there was nothing said about mary lincoln in the 1864 biography and very little said about the children. i think that was still considered taboo, unlike today, of course, we want to know

everything about, you know a person's public and private life. yes. >> were these all promotional or was there such a thing that was reasonably centered or -- that is not prejudiced? >> they were overall biased. i mean, they were presented obviously as i stated as nonpartisan and the writers of these biographies presented themselves as out of the public good presenting a person's biography, not for any partisan reasons but being a good it is zen, i think you should know about this particular candidate. of course, no one took that seriously. yes, you way over there. >> i know that you mentioned that a lot of these publications were for sale, but were others

distributed widely free? and if that was the case, who paid for these materials? >> you could buy campaign biographies in bulk from the publishers, and i suspect that the various parties purchased them in bulk from the commercial firms and then distributed them free of charge at campaign rallies and had them available at party headquarters and so on and so forth. okay. thank you, i will. okay. you right there. >> were any published in another language and what languages? and were any translated to other languages, german, for example? >> the question is about were there campaign biographies published in other languages? yes, there were. in 1860, for example, there were two of lincoln's campaign biographies that were translated

into german. the german vote was very important to the republicans, particularly in 1860. there was also a lincoln campaign biography that was translated into welsh, which is kind of interesting. into welsh in 1860. in 1864, i don't think there were any of lincoln's campaign biographies that appeared in another language, which is kind of interesting. and wlorhether or not that is a sign that they were confident that they had the german vote sewed up, i don't know. it's kind of interesting. certainly as you get in to the middle of the century and later into the 19th century, as immigration is really picking up, you are having biographies issued in other languages, particularly german. yes.

>> the confederacy had a lot riding particularly on the outcome of the 1864 election. do you see any suggestion in the literature in that campaign that an attempt was made to influence northern voters' opinions? or were they just hoping on success on the battlefield? >> both. there were -- the question is about the confederacy and their interest in the outcome of the 1864 campaign and their role in publications in terms of anti-lincoln publications? is that correct? well, they had the copperhead press certainly working on their behalf and you're right, they were very interested in the outcome of the 1864 election. in fact, it got to the point particularly after sherman's victory in atlanta, the battle of mobile bay, shar dan's

campaign through the shenandoah valley, lincoln's defeat was in a sense their last chance. their hope that if he could be defeated that maybe his successor could actually -- would be willing to negotiate. i think one more question i have. rod? >> you talked about the origin of honest abe, does that appear in print prior to 1860? was there a particular publishers who promoted that idea? >> honest abe was used occasionally before the 1860 campaign. in fact, the rail splitter image came was sort of discovered or promoted came out of the 1860 illinois state convention. and it was sort of the brain child of richard oglesby, a friend of lincoln's.

oglesby knew about the honest old abe moniker and felt that by itself it wasn't -- it wasn't going to generate enough enthusiasm. he felt that they should have something else. and they eventually -- i won't go through the long story how this happened but they also came up with honest abe, the rail splitter. it was the rail splitter more than honest abe that probably caught on, though getting back to the issues of the 1860 campaign, corruption in the buchanan administration was an issue. we don't tend to think about it now, but it was a very important issue in 1860 and the honest abe part of that symbol meant something to a lot of people. okay. okay. thank you. [ applause ]. this thanksgiving weekend, we continue our four-day book tv and american history tv

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