PROJECT

Abraham Lincoln’s life and presidency offer lessons that are particularly relevant as our country is immersed in conflict, partisanship, and the persistent challenges of race, class, and religious differences. The American public is looking for new direction from our leaders, and Lincoln’s spirit of compassion and reconciliation, together with his political wisdom and courage, provide a timely example of exceptionally admirable leadership in the public sphere.

The Fetzer Institute launched the Lincoln Leadership Series in May 2007 with an event in Washington, DC, that brought together members of Congress, Hill staff, authors, scholars, community and business leaders, and key partners. Ronald C. White Jr., PhD, best-selling author of The Eloquent President and Lincoln’s Greatest Speech: The Second Inaugural, delivered the keynote address, with several members of Congress joining this commemoration of Lincoln's legacy. The gathering was the first in a series of events that culminates with the Lincoln bicentennial in 2009.

A smaller working group of authors, scholars, and community and business leaders convened to explore potential themes and formats for future Lincoln Leadership Series events. One development was a nonpartisan forum for members of Congress—the Lincoln Leadership Roundtable—to hear from a wide range of scholars and experts and discuss how the lessons of Lincoln's presidency are applicable today. Potential themes include

• Lincoln’s Moral and Spiritual Development
• Lincoln and Race
• The Reach Toward a More Perfect Union
• Relating the Post-Civil-War Environment to the Post-9/11 World