When
I was young, admittedly a long time ago,i
I learned all about the cherry tree and the other important lessons
that Parson Weems taught. It is generally agreed that President
Washington was among our most important leaders, if not the best –
which is what many consider him. His accomplishments, and the
precedents he set, were key to making the United States the world
power that it now is. But as with all famous people, myths arise
that become part of what we view a history. And sometimes the false
memories we have seem more real than the facts. Sometimes the aura
is more important than the reality.
This
idea comes to mind as we remember the assassination of President John
Kennedy, which we'll be commemorating in a few days. It happened
fifty years ago, on November 22, 1963. There are well-documented
historical chronicles of the events of that day, but conspiracy
theories still persist. They're far more interesting than what can
be determined from the facts of the case.
But
that's not surprising, for John Kennedy was far more interesting than
the President. He is remembered with awe, and even those born after
his death “know” how good a President he was. I'm not sure that
the future and history will be quite as generous though. For now,
however, he is remembered with great affection. Whether or not he
was a great President, and I don't think he was, he was a great
leader. Because of his youth, good looks, and rhetorical talents, he
was extraordinarily popular. He made us feel good and confidant as a
nation. We all believed he would lead our nation to new heights.
Our country would be stronger than ever and would solve the problems
that were plaguing us. His speeches were inspirational sermons. We
would have derided themii
had they been offered in a house of prayer, but in the public square
they buoyed our spirits and inspired us to save the world through
various volunteer programs like the Peace Corpsiii
and VISTA. They were important parts of the New Frontier. Our
beloved leader presented a picture of America as we wanted to see it,
and, because we were so eager to live out the dream he personified,
we suspended disbelief. And that was the man who was murdered.
As
President, however, he accomplished much less. If he scared off the
Soviet Union during the “missile crisis,” he frightened us as
well. And that crisis arose only after the badly executed Bay of
Pigs “invasion” which was disastrous not only militarily, but in
terms of public relations and international diplomacy. And he laid
the groundwork for the war in Viet Nam that drove his successor from
office.iv
And during his term little was actually done, notwithstanding the
fanfare. Even his fame as a promoter of civil rights was undeserved.
No major legislation on equal rights resulted from his Presidency
and, while he was in the Senate, he voted against the bill offered in
1957 which was designed to ensure
the right of Negroesv
to vote. Eventually,
before he was shot he publicly supported the idea, but it took a long
time, and outside pressures, for him to reach that point.vi
He
was a great President though. Appearances are sometimes more
important than accomplishments and what President Kennedy said and
how he looked made us feel good about being Americans.
President
Lincoln was also a great President, but not one about whom our
memories are completely accurate. One hundred fifty years ago, on
November 19, 1863, President Lincoln delivered an address in
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It is undeniable that his stewardship
during the Civil War was both critical in keeping our nation
together, and it was certainly damaging to his health. It was a war
that has come to be viewed as the battle to eliminate slavery.
Lincoln is remembered as a foe of such involuntary servitude and as
the man who freed the slaves.
The
war, however, was only peripherally related to slavery. It was a
fight to save Union. Slavery was a secondary issue. In Lincoln's
words:
“If there be those who would not save the Union, unless they could at the same time save slavery, I do not agree with them. If there be those who would not save the Union unless they could at the same time destroy slavery, I do not agree with them. My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that.”vii
A few months later, on January 1, 1863, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. But that proclamation didn't eliminate slavery. It freed slaves in states that were at war with the Union. It was a war tactic. “As a practical matter, at first the Proclamation could only be enforced to free those slaves who had already escaped to the Union side. However, millions more were freed as more areas of the South came under Union control. Lincoln pursued various plans to colonize free Blacks outside of the United States, but none of these had a major effect.”viii It wasn't until 1864 that the President publicly endorsed the Thirteenth Amendment and the end of slavery, and it wasn't until after his death that it was ratified and put into effect.ixHe was a great President. He was a hero. But ignoring history and turning him into a saint does nothing to change the past.
This
week we remember two great men. In both cases, however, we remember
the myths rather than the truth. But if we're commemorating people
and events related to civil rights and an end to slavery, we should
know the truth. For it will set us all free.
Next
episode: “Thanksginukkah”
– Bring on the turducken.
I But
long after President Washington's administration.
ii If
we didn't sleep through them.
iii Interestingly,
President Kennedy didn't introduce the idea, which had been around
for decades. In fact, Senator Humphrey had offered legislation to
establish such a service while Kennedy was still in the Senate.
iv Because
of the unpopularity which his execution of the war engendered,
President Johnson knew better than to run for reelection.
v That
was the term used at the time.
vi See
http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2013/06/the-day-president-kennedy-embraced-civil-rights-and-the-story-behind-it/276749/
for more detail.
viii See
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emancipation_Proclamation
ix December
6, 1865
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