The Politics Behind Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address

Taped at the Union League Club of Chicago, on the 150th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln’s inauguration, Dr David Zarefsky analyzes Lincoln’s first inaugural address, and how Lincoln sought to keep the Southern states in the Union.  With national unity on the line, Lincoln’s speech takes up the issue of slavery and how he urged the South to remain true to the shared values and history of the nation.  From start to the memorable ending, “The better angles of our nature,” Zarefsky dissects Lincoln’s speech which tried but failed to keep Civil War at bay.