terry alford clark david sellers -- i would like to thank them all for their years of service to the institute. [applause] true to our mission, we are here to discuss the life and death of one of america's greatest presidents. abraham lincoln excelled in so many ways. his ability to communicate with the public, his sense of timing, and his superb judgment of issues that people. he remains one of the most riveting personality who has ever lived in the white house. witty, likable, yet hard to get to know. a largely self educated man, who was one of the best writers in national politics. i native of the upper south, who ended slavery. his death was a great loss to the entire nation because the challenges of postwar america would nearly as great as those that he faced it during the war. legal, social, racial, cultural thing at such a moment, the entire nation needed the leadership of a highly skilled politician. the tragedy of his death and the loss of his wisdom reverberated for decades afterwards. let us turn to the inspiring, fascinating subject of abraham lincoln. our speakers bring