Lincoln is hot hot hot

One-man local play, movie part of renewed fascination with United States’ 16th president


Abraham Lincoln sure is having a moment.


The tall and lanky American icon has been portrayed as a vampire hunter and as a children’s book hero who hid letters in his top hat. And now, he has been given the epic Steven Spielberg treatment in “Lincoln,” the film currently in theaters.

Interest in the 16th president has never been so fervent, despite more than 16,000 books already written and countless film, television and theater adaptations since Lincoln was assassinated in 1865.

So what is it that still captures our attention?

Enthusiasm for all things Lincoln is being driven by several factors, historians and sociological experts say, including a longing for the ability to achieve the American dream, a desire for more cohesive leadership, the growing multicultural nature of America, a strong belief in the need for equality, and the governance of the first African-American president — whose favorite president is Honest Abe.

“What draws so many in is the fact that Lincoln came from meager beginnings, he lifted himself up by his bootstraps, he educated himself, he ran for office several times after losing and then took the top office,” said Matthew Schiff, marketing director and curator of the San Diego History Center, home of two original Lincoln-signed documents.

“He epitomizes the American dream. He achieves a lot of merit in our society.”

Of course, Lincoln is revered for ending slavery and preserving the union. Though far from perfect, Lincoln was able to succeed because of two qualities: ironclad moral principles and a capacity to change and transform. His character is resonating with Americans today as the country grapples with issues of economy, war and torture, said Tom Reifer, a race and freedom scholar who teaches sociology at the University of San Diego.

“We need an imperfect person who has strong moral ideals who represents the best of American life, equality and the will to take the political heat and to change with the times, to grasp the moment that is thrust upon him,” said Reifer, who is working on a review about several different works on Lincoln that will publish later this month. “Lincoln was able to do that, and Americans across the political spectrum are hungry for political leaders that will grasp equivalent moments and help move us forward.”

On Saturday in North Park, actor/pianist/singer Hershey Felder as a young Union Army surgeon named Charles Augustus Leale revealed the story of Lincoln’s final hours. Leale came to the president’s aid after he was shot in the Ford theater and spent Lincoln’s final hours with him.

“Lincoln is one of the big icons for all of us,” said Felder, who wrote the play, “An American Story for Actor and Orchestra.” “It’s a fascinating period in our history. Here is an everyman rising to the greatest heights and making major differences in how the entire world works.”


