Lincoln Revises his letter to Horace Greeley
Title
Lincoln Revises his letter to Horace Greeley
Subject
Subject-American History, Civil War-President Lincoln
Description
Dr. James Clarke Welling's eulogy included President Lincoln's secretary, John Nicolay recalling that:
On August 22, 1862 President Lincoln wrote an open letter to Horace Greeley, editor of New York Tribune. This letter, which has become famous in history, he sent to the National Intelligencer for publication.
Dr. James Clarke Welling was at that time the editor in charge, and he did what few young editors would have ventured upon. He wanted to make a change to Lincoln’s text so he immediately carried the manuscript back to the President, and suggested its omission.
President Lincoln good-naturedly complied, not that he was convinced of the alleged imperfection, but because he never stubbornly resisted advice where only trifles were concerned.
John Nicolay, PRINCETON BULLETIN VOL VII; APRIL, 1895
On August 22, 1862 President Lincoln wrote an open letter to Horace Greeley, editor of New York Tribune. This letter, which has become famous in history, he sent to the National Intelligencer for publication.
Dr. James Clarke Welling was at that time the editor in charge, and he did what few young editors would have ventured upon. He wanted to make a change to Lincoln’s text so he immediately carried the manuscript back to the President, and suggested its omission.
President Lincoln good-naturedly complied, not that he was convinced of the alleged imperfection, but because he never stubbornly resisted advice where only trifles were concerned.
John Nicolay, PRINCETON BULLETIN VOL VII; APRIL, 1895
Creator
James C. Welling (1825-1894)
Rights
CC BY-NC-ND 3.0
Interviewer
Research by Caroline Welling Van Deusen
Interviewee
Quote by John Nicolay, Private Secretary to President Lincoln
Location
Washington DC
Transcription
This letter, which has become famous in history, he sent to the National Intelligencer for publication. James Clarke Welling was at that time the editor in charge, and he did what few young editors would have ventured upon. He wanted to make a change to Lincoln’s text so he immediately carried the manuscript back to the President, and suggested its omission.
President Lincoln good-naturedly complied, not that he was convinced of the alleged imperfection, but because he never stubbornly resisted advice where only trifles were concerned.
John Nicolay
Private Secretary to President Lincoln
President Lincoln good-naturedly complied, not that he was convinced of the alleged imperfection, but because he never stubbornly resisted advice where only trifles were concerned.
John Nicolay
Private Secretary to President Lincoln
Original Format
Written
Time Summary
1894
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