The Lincoln They Didn't Teach You About in School

Document Type

Keynote Address

Publication Date

10-18-2025

Abstract

Dr. Robert Watson served as the keynote speaker for the 60th anniversary gala for the Smithsonian Associates. The weekend event featured exhibits and celebrations from the Smithsonian museums.

Saturday, October 18, 2025 - 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET | Zoom presentation

Online Program Weekend Lecture/Seminar. Part of the 60th Anniversary Weekend Celebration

Description: Abraham Lincoln served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. He guided the nation through the Civil War, preserved the Union, and played a major role in the abolition of slavery.

His achievements and remarkable life story make him, arguably, the most iconic person in American history and the nation's greatest president.

However, Lincoln is often remembered as simply "Honest Abe" or the "rail-splitter." Going beyond what most Americans were taught in school, Robert Watson, a professor of American history at Lynn University, explores the many sides of this magnificently complex man, including his knack for oratory, love of literature, his physical strength, humor and humility, and his looks, loves, and losses.

Host

Smithsonian Associates 60th Anniversary Gala

City/State

Washington, DC

Department

College of Arts and Sciences

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