Building a Team of Rivals

Well not so far, but President-elect Obama has promised to fill his cabinet with a wide spectrum of people. He has noted that he hopes to follow in Lincoln's footsteps, but should probably be a little more up on his FDR history. I note today is the 146th anniversary of Lincoln's delivery of the Gettysburg Address, given at the dedication of the cemetery for the Union War dead.

Now remember people, this blog has been labeled as one that covers a wide variety of subjects, but let's remember that history and archives will still occupy the forefront. I still have a number of posts ready to roll and ideas for several more, so you won't get rid of me that easy. And as long as my teeth cooperate, you won't have to hear about them.

You might note even remember some of the things you read here - as happened to Edward Everett, who was noted for his oratorical skills and asked to speak at the cemetery dedication before the President. He spoke for nearly two hours. Anyone remember what he said? No? Well that's because Abraham Lincoln got up and spoke these words:

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate - we can not consecrate - we can not hallow - this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.