A thrilling account Lincoln's presidency using personal letters and Lincoln family communications. I always love to hear the actual letters and diaries read to get a better understanding of people's feelings at the time. There was a tremendous amount of information not written in the history books. While complete press reports were conspicuously missing from the documentary, the extreme views of the time are brushed over. Getting to know the Lincolns and their family as well as the terrible times they lived through. The constant personal conflicts between Lincoln and his aids, cabinet secretaries, and military leaders were all relatively new to me. The death of their son Willie and the misery that loss caused for Mary Lincoln. It reaffirmed the inner strength and intellect I suspected of Abe Lincoln, and is missing from the leaders of today. The lack of action by the arrogant McClelland, just goes to show you that the elite have nothing on the common man. A true jewel for Lincoln fans and history buffs.
American Experience: Abraham and Mary Lincoln: A House Divided Part 1 - Ambition
(2001)
historical jewel
Season 13, Episode 7
12 August 2006