Donaldson Celebrates Lincoln's Contribution

Feb. 12, 2009 — -- The following is a commentary by ABC News' Sam Donaldson. Click here to view a video version of his latest essay.

Here we are on the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth, celebrating, properly, his unique contribution to the American nation.

Recently, the Atlantic magazine asked 100 historians to rate presidents. The consensus was that Lincoln was No.1 because he saved the union. Right behind him in second place was George Washington, because without him there might not have been a union in the first place.

That may strike some as a curious juxtaposition -- the man who created something ranked below the man who later saved the creation.

Well, there are two things that explain Lincoln's top standing. First, though it was to him a secondary, tactical move in furtherance of saving the union, Lincoln's freeing of the slaves lifts him, particularly today given President Obama's election, into a special category. We call Lincoln "the Great Emancipator," not the great union saver.

But the second thing is also so important in our feelings about Lincoln, or anyone for that matter -- we think we know him as a human being, thanks to the work of a multitude of historians and filmmakers.

Ask Americans what they know about Washington the human being and they are likely to say he crossed the Delaware River standing in the bow of his boat -- he probably wasn't standing but that's what the famous picture shows -- and that he had a set of wooden false teeth.

But ask them about Lincoln and they may recall he used to dance around the White House with his little son on his shoulders … or say such things as "find out what brand of whiskey he drinks, I want to send a case to my other generals," when told General Grant, who was winning battles, was a drunk.

And his speeches: The second inaugural, "with malice toward none, with charity for all…" Or his Gettysburg Address, a little two-minute gem, perhaps the most moving speech by any American leader on any subject ever.