Posted: Fri. January 23, 2015
Part 1: Introductory Remarks and Henry Jaffa
Part 2: Thomas J. DiLorenzo
Part 3: Rebuttals, Questions & Answers
Many Americans consider Abraham Lincoln to be the greatest president in history. His legend as the Great Emancipator has grown to mythic proportions as hundreds of books and a monument in Washington, D.C., extol his heroism and martyrdom. Is Lincolns reputation deserved? Lincoln defender Harry V. Jaffa (author of the new book, A New Birth of Freedom) will argue that Lincoln was a model statesman who stuck by high-minded principles as he fought to promote liberty. Lincoln critic Thomas DiLorenzo (author of the new book, The Real Lincoln) will argue that Lincoln was a calculating politician who waged the bloodiest war in American history not to free the slaves, but in order to build an empire that rivaled Great Britains. Was Lincoln a great hero or a villain? Did he honor the promise of Americaor betray it?