Abraham Lincoln and Leadership

"Abraham Lincoln and Leadership"

A presentation by Chief Justice Frank Williams at the Knight Campus

Photo of Chief Justice Frank Williams On March 17, Chief Justice Frank J. Williams presented “Abraham Lincoln and Leadership” in the Bobby Hackett Theatre at the Knight Campus in Warwick as part of the Community College of Rhode Island’s All College Week. Following is a transcript of his speech that night.

Good evening and Happy St. Patrick’s Day. When I was asked to speak with you today, at your College Week celebration, I was deeply honored. This month marks the first full year in office of your new president, Ray Di Pasquale, and I want to take a moment here to commend him for his leadership both on campus and in the community since coming to Rhode Island, and for continuing CCRI’s 44-year reputation for academic excellence.

As all of you certainly are, I am unabashedly proud of this school. It is the fruit of the labors of its founding president, the late Dr. William F. Flanagan — a good Irishman by the way — and the late Governor John H. Chafee, two men I remember well from the 1960s who had the vision and resolve to make higher education more accessible and more affordable to thousands of Rhode Islanders.

In preparing my words for today’s talk, I did a great deal of looking back and reflecting on my own college experience. As I recall my years as an undergraduate, I have many fond memories of friends and professors, of the wonderful new worlds that were opened to me, the beauty of ideas that awakened creative energies, and the prospects for a new and productive life.

You’ll discover, if you haven’t already, that the road ahead is rough. Your college life, and even more so your life after college, will be filled with incomparable challenges and tests of personal endurance, but I am sure you are up to the task. As that great American, Yogi Berra, once said, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it!”

Remember one thing though: Succeeding in school, and in life, requires more than strapping yourself to a desk in the library with books piled high in front of you. Success requires an ability to strike a delicate balance among personal desires and responsibilities set against professional needs; commitments to the heart; commitments to the mind, balanced on scales that only you can measure. Cling tightly to your values, your family, and your sense of humor. This is a place where many of your friendships are created for life, so that when you leave you can understand one another and work together to make this country the best it can be for our future generations.

I am here today to speak with you about leadership. Before he died such an untimely death, actor Christopher Reeve, whom we may all know better as Superman, described what it is to be a hero. Reeve said “a hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.”

For me, Abraham Lincoln fits the bill quite nicely — and that’s not just the $5 bill. Abraham Lincoln has always exemplified the foundations of our society: character, leadership, justice, and a commitment to excellence in whatever one endeavored.

I would like to tell you about the beginnings of my fascination with the life of Abraham Lincoln, as it is that interest that brings me before you today. From the time when I was a very young boy, I have been interested in history, especially the American Civil War. In the sixth grade, I became captivated by the life and legacy of Lincoln. It seems like it was just yesterday. Because my last name begins with “W,” I was placed in the last seat of the last row of my sixth-grade class.

As luck would have it, my seat happened to be just beneath a large print of Abraham Lincoln. During the year that I sat under his picture, I became inspired. And it was because of Lincoln that I decided to become a lawyer. I was thirteen.

When most Americans think about Abraham Lincoln, they think of his presidency, his efforts to preserve the nation during the Civil War, and the Emancipation Proclamation. But seldom do we think about the characteristics that made Lincoln a successful lawyer, politician, and ultimately, president, such as his great political courage, tremendous leadership, and unwavering honesty and integrity.

He is continually ranked highest among all United States presidents. Lincoln has become a mythic figure in the deepest sense of the word, and the circumstances of his life and his legacy, time and again, have transcended Lincoln’s era. Throughout his life, Lincoln exercised a strong hand and was decisive, believing that “some single mind must be master, else there will be no agreement in anything.” He set goals, preached a vision, and continually reaffirmed it. It was a vision not only for America, but for the world even before we became a global community.

Abraham Lincoln had a focused pursuit of justice — he was totally committed. He had great respect for the mandates of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, he also knew that without a true dedication to preserving these United States as UNITED states, our founding fathers’ vision of democracy would crumble and disappear.

Unlike many great politicians, Lincoln reached the White House from very humble beginnings. Lincoln’s forefathers were pioneers who endured great hardships as they settled in areas where man had never before lived – moving from the South Shore of Massachusetts to New Jersey to northeastern Pennsylvania to the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia and then to Kentucky.

Lincoln’s formal education during his young life was limited and irregular — less than one year in “blab” schools. In these schools, all the grades would sit together in a one-room log cabin. Students would learn by repeating their lessons out loud.

But from an early age, Lincoln loved reading and absorbed anything he could get his hands on — the King James version of the Bible, Shakespeare. Among his favorites — “Aesop’s Fables” and “The Life of George Washington” by Parson Weems.

Abraham Lincoln served briefly in the military, including 30 days as the elected captain of his local militia during the Black Hawk War of 1832. He would say some 30 years later that no subsequent success in his life ever gave him as much satisfaction. It transformed him and shaped his eventual path to the presidency. There were many rude awakenings and lessons he would later draw from his military experience. The most important of these lessons was that young men, as enthusiastic or patriotic as they may be, could not be turned from peaceful civilians to soldiers overnight. This helped him relate to his Civil War soldiers, as he knew firsthand what it was like to abide the delays in rations, supplies and pay — to have to sleep on the cold ground, and put up with the indefinite waiting. It took training, discipline, belief in a chain of command, loyalty, and endurance to succeed.

Today, as a military veteran, I can vouch for the tremendous worth that this experience has had in my life – as an attorney, as a trial judge, and for the past seven years as your Chief Justice with administrative responsibilities for running our state court system, with more than 740 employees, including our Supreme Court, the Superior Court or court of general jurisdiction, the Family Court where juvenile and domestic matters are heard, the District Court, the Workers’ Compensation Court, right down to our busiest court, the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal.

In 1832, when Lincoln was twenty-three years old, he started his political career. He entered his name as a candidate for Representative in the Illinois General Assembly from Sangamon County. Lincoln lost the election. But, in 1834, he made another run for the Legislature and this time he was elected.

Encouraged by a fellow Whig with whom he served in the Black Hawk War, Lincoln harbored dreams of becoming a lawyer. He would go without sleep in order to study and, in 1836, he appeared before a committee of lawyers and passed the necessary legal test of his time. In Lincoln’s time, to be a lawyer, one “read” the law and became familiar with it. There was no law school, no bar exam.

Lincoln had his law office in Springfield, Illinois, but twice a year a judge took justice on the road to the people by riding the circuit. At those times, a band of lawyers would join the judge on a journey to the far corners of the Eighth Judicial Circuit, an area the size of Maryland. It was a 500-mile trip to visit all fourteen county seats and most of the time they rode horseback. It was dirty and tiring.

The courthouses too were primitive and the attorneys met and interviewed their clients for the first time right before trial.

Lincoln was a zealous legal advocate and was tenacious in the courtroom. Fellow attorney Leonard Swett wrote about Lincoln: “Any man who took Lincoln for a simple-minded man would very soon wake up with his back in a ditch.”

Even more so than his sense of justice, lawyer Lincoln was well known for his honesty and integrity, and the stereotype of “Honest Abe.” “I do not state a thing and say I know it, when I do not,” he explained in one of his debates with Douglas. “… I mean to put a case no stronger than the truth will allow.”

During his time as an attorney, Lincoln developed a close relationship with Judge David Davis. It was common then for circuit judges to designate attorneys to take their seats on the bench if they were called away. Judge Davis, having held Lincoln in such high regard, chose attorney Lincoln to take his place whenever he could not attend to his judicial labors.

[Certainly, Lincoln’s honesty and integrity permeated the courtroom when Lincoln filled in for Judge Davis. While sitting as a judge, Lincoln exhibited great integrity when he heard two motions argued by his law partner, William Herndon. You could not do this now. In one case, Lincoln decided a motion against his own client; in another, he was stern and ordered his clients “to answer by the 1st of [February] next.” While other judges have been chastised for presiding over such cases, to Lincoln’s credit, his colleagues had confidence in his veracity and fairness on the bench. Even Herndon’s adversary did not object when Lincoln sat in place of Judge Davis on the bench. Instead, his opponent argued the motion before Lincoln without protest. Not only do these illustrations demonstrate that Lincoln had the ability to sit as a fair and impartial judge, they show that Lincoln could maintain such neutrality even when faced with a motion by his own law partner on behalf of his own client.]

Ethics shifts like sand as illustrated in this story: Lincoln was in Metamora, Illinois, defending Melissa Goings against a charge of murdering her husband.

The trial was proceeding poorly for Mrs. Goings. Lincoln called for a recess to confer with his client, and he led her from the courtroom. When court reconvened, and Mrs. Goings could not be found, Lincoln was accused of advising her to flee, a charge he vehemently denied. He explained however, that the defendant had asked him where she could get a drink of water, and he had pointed out that Tennessee had darn good water! She was never seen again in Illinois!

Lincoln’s advocacy soon began to spill out into the streets as he started making public statements against the practice of slavery. “This covert zeal for the spread of slavery I cannot but hate. I hate it because of the monstrous injustice of slavery itself.”

His passion for this cause reignited Lincoln’s political career. In 1856, he committed himself to the newly created Republican Party. In a race for the Senate two years later, he entered into serious and now famous debates with Stephen A. Douglas.

Though he lost to Douglas in the bid for Senate, he gained a national following based on his anti-slavery message. He remained firm in what he called “the Republican principle — the unalterable principle” — slavery is wrong and should not be extended into the territories.

As he gained national recognition, the presidency seemed a viable possibility for this Midwesterner. During his campaign, he was seen as the “humble man,” a “man of the people” and “one of us.” And in November 1860, Lincoln won the election. He felt a responsibility then such as he had never felt before.

As President-elect Lincoln boarded the inaugural train on February 11, 1861 and wound his way toward the nation’s capital, this country stood on the threshold of civil war. In accepting the presidency, Lincoln knew that he had inherited a nation divided. From the first, Lincoln’s paramount goal was to preserve the greater Union, to unite this country forever under one flag. Lincoln had his work cut out for him.

In city after city, as he made his way to Washington, Lincoln addressed throngs of onlookers eager to catch a glimpse of their new leader. His message remained consistent — one nation, one people, one law.

By the time of Abraham Lincoln’s inauguration on March 4, 1861, seven southern states had seceded from the Union. The political tenor in this country was so unstable that Lincoln himself traveled incognito through Baltimore, at night, to avoid assassination on his way to his own inauguration.

In the first several months of his presidency, Lincoln took acts that even he deemed to be “extra-Constitutional.” For example, he increased the size of the army and navy, expended funds for the purchase of weapons, instituted a blockade — an act of war, and suspended the precious writ of habeas corpus — all without Congressional approval.

Lincoln was perhaps most roundly criticized for his unilateral decision to suspend the writ of habeas corpus — a prisoner’s right to have his detention reviewed by a magistrate or judge. But to his critics he responded, “Are all the laws, but one, [the right to habeas corpus] ... go unexecuted, and the government itself ... go to pieces, lest that one be violated?”

Lincoln further defended this approach explaining that his actions were not only justified, but were required of him pursuant to his oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.

Lincoln was a great leader, so respected and revered by the soldiers of the Civil War that they called him “Father Abraham” even when sent into battle with inept generals whom the President had appointed.

Great leadership requires the ability to stay the course even when you stand alone. Great leadership requires a commitment to mission and preserving the welfare of your unit as you pursue your mission daily, especially when confronted with personal and professional obstacles. Great leadership requires hope, confidence, and unshakable moral and political courage.

Picture this. It was Wednesday, September 17, 1862, when Confederate General Robert E. Lee waged the first major Civil War engagement on Northern soil.

The battle of Anitetam was the bloodiest single day battle in American history. Twenty six thousand men died that day. It was a “landscape turned red.”

The loss of human life at Antietam shocked both sides. And as the glowing sun set over the bloody fields of Antietam, on September 22, 1862, five days after the battle, Abraham Lincoln changed the course of the war, and history.

Undeterred by the earlier criticism he had faced, Lincoln issued a preliminary proclamation giving freedom to black slaves and changing the war’s aim from reunion to reunion and freedom for the blacks.

Lincoln adhered strongly to his conviction of keeping the nation together through the preservation of the Union. With his never changing belief that all men are created equal, Lincoln fought for and issued the final Emancipation Proclamation on New Years Day 1863, ordering the freedom of the slaves within occupied Confederate states. During a time when slaves had no rights and were considered the property of their owners, Lincoln boldly issued the emancipation – and did so as a military measure, as slavery was protected in the Constitution.

As you can well see, my greatest hero, Abraham Lincoln, embodied political courage. He was clear and self-confident in his belief that issuing the Emancipation Proclamation was the correct thing to do. During the time he thought about emancipation early in the war, he learned to trust his own judgment, and although he made mistakes, they were not mistakes of self-doubt.

For this first prerequisite of political courage, he had to be steady amid a barrage of criticism. And certainly Lincoln was no stranger to criticism — from Army of the Potomac Commanding General, George B. McClellan, soldiers and sailors who believed that they did not enlist to free blacks but only to restore the Union, the northern public and northern newspapers editors who called him the “wooden head in Washington,” and “two faced” (Lincoln responding, “If I had another face, would I wear this one?”) and “Abraham Africanas I” for issuing the Emancipation Proclamation.

On Sundays, if he had time, he would read editorials about his administration and then ask himself the question, “Is Abraham Lincoln a man or a dog?”

Lincoln knew that results mattered. He wasn’t afraid to push the envelope. He knew that he had to have courage, be steadfast, and stand up for what he believed in. One gets the impression that he would sacrifice everything before retreating from this act of freedom. As Lincoln said thereafter, “The promise being made, must be kept.”

I must admit, it is not always easy to stick to your principles — especially when you find yourself standing alone. But to paraphrase Lincoln, as long as you remain true to yourself, if at the end of the day you have lost every other friend on earth, you will at least have one friend left, and that friend shall be inside of you. And Lincoln remained true to himself.

Amid the strife of the Civil War, Lincoln retained his wonderful sense of humor — General John Pope would write dispatches from the field titled: “From Headquarters in the saddle.” Lincoln reported to a friend that the trouble with Pope is that he has his headquarters where his hindquarters ought to be.

Lincoln was obsessed with character. When he spoke of character he spoke of selflessness and honor. To a critic of emancipation, Lincoln wrote, “Why should they (the black soldier and sailor) do anything for us if we do nothing for them?” In the end, over 200,000 black soldiers and sailors served in the Union army and navy.

Finally, Lincoln was most alive in the midst of the fray. Theodore Roosevelt once declared, “Aggressive fighting for the right is the noblest sport the world affords.”

When Abraham Lincoln spoke to the issue of equality, he did so with passion and conviction: “Let us discard all this quibbling about this man and the other man, this race and that race and the other race being inferior, and therefore they must be placed in an inferior position. Let us discard all these things and unite as one people throughout this land, until we shall once more stand up declaring that all men are created equal.”

Lincoln’s presidency was marked by difficult and controversial choices, and still draws sharp criticism and debate today. And so it is with this administration’s policies in the war on terror. I never thought, as a veteran, lawyer, and now a judge, that I would be living through a situation where the issue of national security and civil liberties, would once again be in conflict as it was during the Civil War.

As we were during Lincoln’s era, we are again a nation at war. Amid the friction and abrasion in the “race of life,” it is easy to forget the imminence of another terrorist attack. But, this is no ordinary time. Think about this: we lost 620,000 people over the four years of the Civil War. We could lose that many people in one day if we were to undergo a nuclear, chemical or biological attack at the hands of terrorists. Nevertheless, “it is encouraging to know that this nation has endured such troubles before and survived them.” This was due, in no small part, to Abraham Lincoln’s great leadership.

Lincoln’s actions, although radical, were necessary during the Civil War when such grave national security problems were endemic. His actions did draw swift and severe disapproval, but, Lincoln held true to his principles, remaining steadfast even in the face of criticism. He acted in accordance with the teaching of the great Roman senator, Cicero, who wrote in his treatise about law: “Salus populi suprema lex” – The well being of the people is the highest law.

Lincoln took the position that the outbreak of civil war made it necessary “to call out the war power of the government” to destroy those forces dedicated to its destruction. He declared martial law and authorized military tribunals to try civilians – U.S. citizens who were sympathetic to the Confederacy. Under the aegis of the Lincoln administration there were 75,961 Union army trials. Of these, 5,460 were trials before military commissions and most were trials of civilian United States citizens. While such an act was unpopular, Lincoln answered his critics with a reasoned, constitutional argument. A national crisis existed and in the interest of self-preservation he had to act. Lincoln professed that his actions were born of popular demand and public necessity, “trusting then, as now, that Congress would readily ratify them.” His words recognized that his power required some cooperation and approval from Congress, which eventually enacted legislation empowering the president to take these radical measures while rebellion continued. The Supreme Court, too, allowed him to lead. Note how, under our federal system, all three branches had a hand in coming up with a protocol.

Today, we, like Lincoln, are faced with another national emergency, an emergency that is shared around the world, and it warrants unpopular decisions. While the United States may be different today, we are following the indelible footsteps laid down on the sands of history. And again, all three branches of government are involved in working through these issues. As always, there is much to be learned from history.

Abraham Lincoln, a simple country boy from the middle of nowhere USA crafted a legacy that will live on forever. In large part because of him, we are one country, under one flag, one government.

But one does not have to be a President to leave a legacy. And one person can make a difference. The choices you make in everyday life define how you will be remembered.

Be diligent is serving your communities. Marian Wright Edelman, founder of the Children’s Defense Fund, once said that service is the rent we pay for living. I wholeheartedly agree. Remember there is honor in public service. I urge you to use your skills to restore, promote, enhance, and maintain respect for yourselves as well as your fellow citizens. I encourage you to seek elective office and serve on boards and commissions in your respective communities. Recognize the spark that ignites your passion for life, the fire in the belly, and do not let that fire be extinguished.

If there is only one thing that you learn from Lincoln’s life, let it be this: Do not let the possibility of failure or criticism prevent you from pursuing the success or you will lose out on the sweetest part of this dream.

Nevertheless, in your lives, be careful and pay attention to detail. A CCRI professor left for a vacation to Jamaica. His wife was on a business trip and was planning to meet him there the next day. When he reached his hotel, he decided to send his wife a quick e-mail message. Unable to find the scrap of paper on which he had written her e-mail address, he did his best to type it in from memory.

Unfortunately, he missed one letter, and his note was directed instead to an elderly preacher’s wife whose husband had passed away only the day before. When the grieving widow checked her e-mail, she took one look at the monitor, let out a piercing scream, and fell to the floor in a faint. At the sound, her family rushed into the room and saw this note on the screen: “Dearest Wife, just got checked in. Everything prepared for your arrival tomorrow. Your loving husband. P.S. Sure is hot down here.”

Thank you and God Bless.