The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation, Gerald R. Ford Library and Museum, and Hauenstein Center welcomed bestselling author and historian Ronald C. White for a virtual discussion on his recent book, Lincoln in Private: What His Most Personal Reflections Tell Us About Our Greatest President. Abraham Lincoln, despite his public reputation as a gifted lawyer, politician and president, was known by his friends and colleagues as a deeply private man. His “best thoughts,” as he called them, came in the form of short, private notes that outlined his thinking on the issues that would come to define his presidency. Whether writing about the legal profession, the Republican party, slavery, or debate preparation, Lincoln endeavored to understand another person’s beliefs from within that belief system so he could effectively respond to views opposite his own. And White’s masterful analysis of the sixteenth president’s probing intellectual curiosity, as reflected in these “best thoughts,” offers a revelatory glimpse into the man’s brilliance, empathy, and anxieties. Tune in to the Hauenstein Center’s YouTube page to view a recording of this thought-provoking examination of the private life of one of America’s most revered leaders.
Watch the Program Here
When
May 7, 2021
Program Supporters
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum
