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1252687
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2/12/76 - Address Commemorating Lincoln's Birthday
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1252687
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document
title
2/12/76 - Address Commemorating Lincoln's Birthday
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President's Speeches and Statements Reading Copies (Ford Administration)
Reading Copies of Presidential Speeches and Statements
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1252687
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12
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1976-02-12
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2
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1976
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12
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1976-02-12
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2
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1976
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The original documents are located in Box 23, "2/12/76 - Address Commemorating
Lincoln's Birthday" of the President's Speeches and Statements: Reading Copies at the
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box 23 of President's Speeches and Statements: Reading Copies at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
LINCOLN DAY ADDRESS
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1976
/Surt/Reppe Hunt / mmy Washington
MAY I EXPRESS MY THANKS TO ALL THE MEMBERS OF THE
PATRIOTIC ORGANIZATIONS REPRESENTED HERE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO JOIN YOU IN THIS BICENTENNIAL TRIBUTE TO ABRAHAM LINCOLN
ON THE 167TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS BIRTH
-2-
IN TIME
LINCOLN WAS CLOSER TO THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
THAN WE ARE TO THE CIVIL WAR
HIS GRANDFATHER IN VIRGINIA
HEARD THE GREAT NEWS FROM PHILADELPHIA IN 1776; / ONLY FOUR SCORE
AND SEVEN YEARS HAD PASSED WHEN PRESIDENT LINCOLN STOOD AMONG
THE NEW GRAVES AT GETTYSBURG
-3-
TO THE YOUNG LINCOLN GROWING TO MANHOOD IN KENTUCKY
INDIANA AND ILLINOIS, JEFFERSON'S RINGING TRUTHS IN THE
DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE WERE EXCITING AND REAL --
THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL --
-4-
THAT THEY ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN
UNALIENABLE RIGHTS -- LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF
HAPPINESS.
-5-
AMONG HIS MANY GIFTS OF GREATNESS
ABRAHAM LINCOLN HAD AN ALMOST MYSTIC ABILITY TO FIND DEEP
MEANING IN THE TUMULTOUS EVENTS THAT SWIRLED ABOUT HIM
-6-
HIS EXPRESSION OF THESE INSIGHTS IN WORDS THAT SOME
CALLED DULL AND DISHWATERY WHEN THEY WERE SPOKEN,
ARE INSCRIBED ON THESE WALLS AND IN THE HEARTS OF HIS
COUNTRYMEN.
-7-
BUT IT IS LESS FOR THE POWER OF HIS WORDS THAT
WE HONOR LINCOLN THAN FOR THE FORCE OF HIS FAITH IN AMERICA /
AND IN THE PEOPLE OF THIS GREAT REPUBLIC
-8-
HE SAW THE POLITICAL SYSTEM CREATED BY THE
CONSTITUTION/AS A DEFINITIVE ANSWER TO THE ANC IENT DEBATE
ABOUT THE ABILITY OF MAN/TO GOVERN HIMSELF IN FREEDOM.
THE WORTH AND THE WILL OF THE GOVERNMENT IN WASHINGTON WAS
BEING QUESTIONED AND ASSAILED ALL AROUND HIM
-9-
BUT EVEN AS AMERICANS STRUGGLED IN BLOODY BATTLE
WITH OTHER AMERICANS OVER ISSUES THE FOUNDING FATHERS
HAD FAILED TO RESOLVE, / PRESIDENT LINCOLN WAS ABLE TO
DECLARE:
-10-
" IT IS MY CONFIDENT HOPE AND BELIEF THAT THIS
SYSTEM WILL BE FOUND / AFTER SUFFICIENT TRIALS, / TO BE BETTER
ADAPTED EVERYWHERE / THAN ANY OTHER, / TO THE GREAT INTEREST
OF HUMAN SOCIETY -- NAMELY, / THE PRESERVATION OF PEACE,
ORDER AND NATIONAL PROSPERITY."
-11-
AND / AFTER MORE THAN SUFFICIENT TRIAL, /
THE UNION WAS SAVED AND THE REPUBLIC ENDURES
IT IS TO ABRAHAM LINCOLN THAT WE OWE THE OPPORTUNITY TO
OBSERVE OUR NATIONAL BICENTENNIAL IN PEACE AMONG OURSELVES
AND WITH ALL NATIONS
-12-
TODAY, WE REDEDICATE OURSELVES TO THE VALUES AND
GOALS FOR WHICH ABRAHAM LINCOLN LIVED AND DIED --
-13-
" THAT THIS NATION, UNDER GOD, SHALL HAVE A NEW BIRTH
OF FREEDOM -- AND THAT GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE,
BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE. / SHALL NOT PERISH
FROM THE EARTH
II
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