October 30th the Maryland Humanities Council and the Maryland Art Museum joined hands to produce a great Chautauqua type event. Presidents Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt engaged in spirited conversation about the essential qualities of a good president.
The questions, which were organized as an interview conducted by Fraser Smith, senior news analyst at Baltimore WYPR, centered on the knowledge that each man brought to the White House with the query was experience was necessary. Lincoln, as portrayed by Jim Getty, focused on his years in the Illinois Legislature while TR, portrayed by Doug Mishler, essayed his role as New York Police Commissioner.
Lincoln noted at length that he knew nothing about military strategy and tactics before he arrived in the White House. Pouring over the books, maps, and charts he soon was a match for pompous and garrulous political generals.
Both men stated that family life was the only real reprieve from the constant grind of the presidency. They rega led the audience with tales of their children’s high jinks in the White House.
Finally, although Lincoln noted that he had his team of rivals, both men spoke ill of the Congress during their tenure, referring to the institution as a debating society. Action was needed even when the Congress was not in session. They did not believe in waiting.
I would have liked to see a staunch member of Congress join the group.
In July in Philadelphia at the annual convention of state legislators, among many other programs, the ALBC will sponsor a panel on Lincoln’s eight years as a state legislator. Among the experts in this field, we will likely invite Jim Getty to talk about his role in Springfield.
We hope to return to Baltimore when the Humanities Council produces more programs and exhibits about Lincoln and possibly one of the state’s favorite sons - Frederick Douglass.
