Lincoln's Gettysburg address: A lesson for dealing with detractors

Lincoln's Gettysburg address is now considered one of the greatest speeches in American history. Quotes from the speech are so widely used globally, that we forget their origin. For example, my sixth grade teacher in India used  Lincoln's closing statement of democracy being the government of the people, for the people and by the people to explain democracy to us. America is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the speech this year with much pomp and pride.

The two to three minute speech is today marveled for its simple eloquence, and for its ability to distill the essence of America's values in a few profound sentences. In fact Lincoln's speech was so unexpectedly short that many photographers missed capturing the historic occasion on their cameras. It is unlikely that the status of the Gettysburg address will even marginally diminish in future, since the power of its words is timeless. 


Examining the journey of the speech from when it was delivered on November 19, 1863 to its current undisputed status as one of best speeches in history illustrates the long journey to success of any endeavor. 

Lincoln was not the main speaker of the day, but followed the two hour long well-received address of the keynote speaker : politician and orator, Edward Evert. The reaction to Lincoln's address was far from overwhelmingly positive. The reactions of the press was predictably along political lines. The New York Times, the Providence Daily Journal and the Republic were very favorable to the speech. However, the criticism was particularly harsh from some others. For example, The Chicago Times wrote that

"The cheek of every American must tingle with shame as he reads the silly flat and dishwattery [sic] remarks of the man who has to be pointed out as the President of the United States. … Is Mr. Lincoln less refined than a savage? … It was a perversion of history so flagrant that the most extended charity cannot view it as otherwise than willful."

The Patriot dismissed it as some "silly remarks", and even the British paper the London Times minced no words in the following report.

The ceremony was rendered ludicrous by some of the sallies of that poor President Lincoln. Anything more dull and commonplace it would not be easy to produce." 

 

However the astute keynote speaker Evert realized the significance of Lincoln's speech, and in a tremendous display of courage wrote to Lincoln.
 

 I should be glad, if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion, in two hours, as you did in two minutes.”

Lincoln graciously replied that he was glad his speech was not a complete failure. Over the years the speech slowly but surely entered the realms of the American public, and acquired its current hallowed status. In fact the Patriot retracted its 1863 editorial comments, by expressing its regret for the error. 

Aspiring and present leaders can draw inspiration from this remarkable journey of the Gettysburg

address. Success does not happen overnight, but has a rather tumultuous journey. Even the best work can risk being drowned by the voices of a few critics. But as Epictetus says there is no point worrying about things beyond our control. One can only do one's best and move on. We live in times of instant gratification and pressure for short term results. It's worth taking the time to pause and look at the origins of some of the great and enduring achievements in history. Finally, as Aristotle points out, our success (a good life) does not end when we die. Lincoln did not live to see the rise of his "little speech" to legendary status. But his legacy lives on, stronger than ever.      

Lincoln picture credit
Gettysburg address picture credit