Georgiann Baldino's Blog

• Public Reaction to Lincoln-Douglas-style Political Debates

  2008 May 06

  At the end of April just before the Indiana and North Carolina primaries, the Associated Press and other news agencies released a challenge from Senator Hillary Clinton to Senator Barack Obama for a debate using the style of Abraham Lincoln and Stephen Douglas. Senator Clinton called for one more debate without a moderator. Obama’s spokesman, David Axlerod, reportedly indicated enough time had been spent debating Clinton, and he didn’t feel the public was clamoring for more debates.
  
  But if Clinton and Obama truly adopted the style of Lincoln and Douglas, a great clamor could result. They did not take questions from a moderator but used the time to attack each other, refute the other’s position and demand answers to political, legal, social and moral questions. They talked for three hours, however, not in two-minute sound bites.
  
  
  The seven Lincoln-Douglas debates also unfolded in cliff-hanging installments. Questions asked at one debate were avoided until a future meeting. If the candidates could get away with silence, they ignored each other. Voters had many concerns: financial panic, immigration issues, infrastructure needs, but the candidates limited the discussion to personal attacks and the subject of slavery. Lincoln spoke for the ages, and his clear speeches helped divergent political factions understand their common interest.
  

• Lincoln Institute Story of the Day

  2008 Feb 21

  The Lincoln Institute has created widgets that allow other websites to post new, unique, fresh content on other websites every day. Users are asked to copy the simple code provided on http://www.abrahamlincoln.org/resources.asp
  
  The result is an effortless post of educational and entertaining information related to Abraham Lincoln’s life and legend. The Lincoln Institute updates the text daily.
  

• The Midwest Book Review

  2008 Feb 10

  The Midwest Book Review has featured Following Lincoln as He Followed Douglas in their February 2008 Small Press Bookwatch. They especially recommend the book to non-specialist general readers "with an interest in Abraham Lincoln."
  
  Read the full review at: The Midwest Book Review Recommends "Following Lincoln as He Followed Douglas"
  
  
  

• Following Lincoln Celebrates the Lincoln-Douglas Debates

  2008 Jan 25

  When I retraced the Lincoln-Douglas debates by traveling around Illinois, I was surprised at rich details surrounding Abraham Lincoln’s failed bid to become a U.S. Senator.
  
  Abraham Lincoln left his successful law practice and entered the race to oppose Stephen Douglas over the expansion of slavery. Compared to the great Douglas of the Senate, Lincoln was relatively unknown. He had to begin his campaign by following Douglas around and taking advantage of the crowds who came to hear the incumbent. This is where I got the title for the book, Following Lincoln as He Followed Douglas. Although I've lived in Illinois most of my life, I didn't realize how their bickering shook political and social foundations all across the country.
  
  But after visiting a couple of the debate sites, the dedication constitutents showed was just as intriguing as the candidates and their midterm mudslinging. People's willingness to endure travel hardships and inclement weather made the 19th century campaign more interesting than before.
  
  Illinois and the nation will commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Lincoln-Douglas debates later this year. Communities where the 1858 debates took place plan a series of events called “Reunion Tour 2008.” Public celebrations are scheduled for: August 22-24 in Ottawa; August 29-31, Freeport; September 12-14, Jonesboro; September 19-21, Charleston; October 3-5, Galesburg; October 11-13, Quincy; and October 17-19 in Alton.
  
  I would like to encourage people to visit the sites and find out more about one of the country's most important examples of civic participation.