Conversation: Eric Foner on Obama and Lincoln’s Legacy

Conversation: Eric Foner on Obama and Lincoln’s Legacy

What can Obama learn from Abraham Lincoln about governing a divided nation, and what can we learn from Lincoln’s example about guiding a president to more progressive policies?

Copy Link
Facebook
X (Twitter)
Bluesky
Pocket
Email

When Barack Obama took office as president, many people compared him to the man who ended slavery in the US—Abraham Lincoln. Both men, says historian Eric Foner, were moving orators, rising to prominence through their powerful speeches, and both presidents came to office at a time of great national division. But whereas Lincoln actually appreciated critique, Foner notes, despite Obama’s calls for progressives to hold him accountable, the president doesn’t seem to actually like what that entails.

What else could Obama learn from Lincoln? What could we? Eric Foner explains the lessons he learned while writing his upcoming book, The Fiery Trial: Abraham Lincoln and American Slavery.

The Nation on GRIT TV is a weekly video collaboration between The Nation and GRIT TV with Laura Flanders. Watch for Monday briefings, Wednesday commentaries, weekend conversations and more at TheNation.com. For full half-hour episodes of The Nation on GRIT TV, or local television air times visit www.grittv.org.

Ad Policy
x

Looks like your ad blocker is on.

×

We rely on ads to keep creating quality content for you to enjoy for free.

Please support our site by disabling your ad blocker.

Continue without supporting us

Choose your Ad Blocker

  • Adblock Plus
  • Adblock
  • Adguard
  • Ad Remover
  • Brave
  • Ghostery
  • uBlock Origin
  • uBlock
  • UltraBlock
  • Other
  1. In the extension bar, click the AdBlock Plus icon
  2. Click the large blue toggle for this website
  3. Click refresh
  1. In the extension bar, click the AdBlock icon
  2. Under "Pause on this site" click "Always"
  1. In the extension bar, click on the Adguard icon
  2. Click on the large green toggle for this website
  1. In the extension bar, click on the Ad Remover icon
  2. Click "Disable on This Website"
  1. In the extension bar, click on the orange lion icon
  2. Click the toggle on the top right, shifting from "Up" to "Down"
  1. In the extension bar, click on the Ghostery icon
  2. Click the "Anti-Tracking" shield so it says "Off"
  3. Click the "Ad-Blocking" stop sign so it says "Off"
  4. Refresh the page
  1. In the extension bar, click on the uBlock Origin icon
  2. Click on the big, blue power button
  3. Refresh the page
  1. In the extension bar, click on the uBlock icon
  2. Click on the big, blue power button
  3. Refresh the page
  1. In the extension bar, click on the UltraBlock icon
  2. Check the "Disable UltraBlock" checkbox
  3. Marque la casilla de verificación "Desactivar UltraBlock"
  1. Please disable your Ad Blocker

If the prompt is still appearing, please disable any tools or services you are using that block internet ads (e.g. DNS Servers).

Logo