Edna Greene Medford explains that while President Lincoln was a man of the South, he overcame some of his prejudices long enough to do the right thing. As a result, he becomes “so much more important to the nation as a symbol of what the nation can be and can do when we look at him that way.

Directions

Watch this A Democracy Minute video by Life Stories without taking any notes and reflect on one or two key points that stood out to you (for more background on Greene Medford, click here). Then watch it again and write down your response to the following question:

How do you think Lincoln’s evolution on issues such as slavery and emancipation reflect what the nation can be and can do?

You can make your response as short as the quote above or feel free to expand more. Discuss your excerpt with a partner or together as a class noting the commonalities and differences in students' responses.

Share your response under Life Stories' Instagram post and tag @NewsHourExtra, so we can see it, too!

Check out the following list of topics and accompanying learning resources released each Thursday leading up to the presidential election:

Life Stories is a nonprofit media organization that creates documentary films and educational resources about people whose lives inspire meaningful change. This interview is also featured in the Apple TV+ documentary "Lincoln's Dilemma."

Additional resources

In her 2018 book, “Leadership in Turbulent Times,” presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin explores the trajectories of Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lyndon B. Johnson, arguing that for all four of them, “at some point, ambition for the self became ambition for something larger.” Judy Woodruff interviews the author about her inspiration and hope for her work.

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