The Living Words of Abraham Lincoln - Foreword - Carl Sandburg

Sep 29, 2026

A collection of selected writings and speeches by Abraham Lincoln, framed by a revealing foreword from Carl Sandburg. The text presents Lincoln as both “steel and velvet,” combining moral steadfastness with gentleness, and highlights his leadership during the Civil War. It emphasizes his political and spiritual navigation of terrible storm and peace, including emancipation and wartime measures, and culminates in reflections connected to Gettysburg and the remembered national mourning after his death.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLiterature

FormatPDF

Pages72

Reading Time1 h 51 min

AccessFree to download

Selected Writings of a Great President

A Foreword by Carl Sandburg

$2.50 250HE50-5 # The Living Wordsof Abraham Lincoln Selected Writingsof a Great President Abraham Lincoln,writes poetand biographer Carl Sandburgin his revealing Foreword,wasa man"both steel and velvet,"aman "hard as rock and soft asdrifting fog,"a man who "heldin his heart and mind the para-dox of terrible storm and peaceunspeakable and perfect."TheLiving Words of Abraham Lin-coln offers every American thechance to know this fascinating,paradoxical man. Sandburg's Foreword;humor-ous stories;and Lincoln's ownwords combine here to helpexplain the greatness of theplain,self-educated man wholed a divided nation throughthe most violent upheaval ithad ever known. (continued on back flap) # THE LIVING wORDS OFABRAHAM LINCOLN Rare,early silhouette of Abraham Lincoln The Living Wordsof Abraham Lincoln SELECTED WRITINGS OF A GREAT PRESIDENT WITH A FOREWORD BYCARL SANDBURG Edited by Edward Lewisand Jack Belck ◎1967 by Hallmark Cards,Incorporated.Printed in the United States of America.Library of Congress Catalog Card Number:67-21536.A complete list of acknowledgments appears at theend of this book ‘THE INCOMPARABLE ABRAHAM LINCOLN′A Foreword by Carl Sandburg Not often in the story of mankind does a manarrive on earth who is both steel and velvet,whois as hard as rock and soft as drifting fog,whoholds in his heart and mind the paradox ofterrible storm and peace unspeakable and per-fect.Here and there across centuries come re-ports of men alleged to have these contrasts.And the incomparable Abraham Lincoln,bornmore than 150 years ago,is an approach,if nota perfect realization,of this character. In the time of the April lilacs in the year 1865,on his death,the casket with his body wascarried north and west a thousand miles;andthe American people wept as never before;bellssobbed,cities wore crepe;people stood in tearsand with hats off as the railroad burial carpaused in the leading cities of seven states,ending its journey at Springfield,Illinois,thehometown. During the four years he was President,heat times,especially in the first three months, took to himself the power of a dictator;he com-manded the most powerful armies till thenassembled in modern warfare;he enforced con-scription of soldiers for the first time in Ameri-can history;under imperative necessity heabolished the right of habeas corpus;he directedpolitically and spiritually the wild,massive,turbulent forces let loose in civil war He argued and pleaded for compensated eman-cipation.As a Chief Executive having warpowers he issued the paper by which he declaredthe slaves to be free under military necessity.In the end nearly $4 billion worth of propertywas taken away from those who were legalowners of it,property confiscated,wiped outas by fire and turned to ashes,at his instigationand executive direction.Chattel property recog-nized and lawful for 300 years was expropriated,seized without payment. In the month the war began he told hissecretary,John Hay: My policy is to have no policy. Three years later in a letter to a Kentuckyfriend,made public,he confessed plainly: I have been controlled by events. His words at Gettysburg were sacred,yetstrange with a color of the familiar: We cannot consecrate,we cannot hallow,this

FAQs

What is Carl Sandburg’s role in this book?

Carl Sandburg provides the foreword, introducing Lincoln’s character and leadership through a portrait of contrasts and inner paradox.

How does the text describe Lincoln’s leadership during the Civil War?

It highlights his use of major executive powers and his direction of actions tied to emancipation, conscription, and civil war necessity.

Which of Lincoln’s famous moments does the excerpt connect to this collection?

It references Lincoln’s words at Gettysburg and also mentions the national mourning after his death and the funeral journey to Springfield.

Sep 29, 2026

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