It’s about a week before the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, and President Lincoln seems to have his political future on his mind. Yesterday he explained why he thought it was worth fighting even three more years to save the Union with its promise of equal opportunity for all. Since the war was the main issue, it seemed that the Democrats would need to develop a platform that distanced themselves from the Republicans. 150 years ago today Mr. Lincoln concluded that he was going to have to make sure the Union got saved before the inauguration of a Democrat president-elect.
From The Papers And Writings Of Abraham Lincoln, Volume Seven:
MEMORANDUM.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, August 23, 1864.
This morning, as for some days past, it seems exceedingly probable that this administration will not be re-elected. Then it will be my duty to so co-operate with the President-elect as to save the Union between the election and the inauguration; as he will have secured his election on such ground that he cannot possibly save it afterward.
A. LINCOLN.
