I Cannot Tell A Lie

                                                                                                           

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 Negroes^v 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.^ix

He 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.

vii     Letter to Horace Greeley, August 22, 1862.

viii    See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emancipation_Proclamation

ix     December 6, 1865