Succinct, Profound and Enduring
President Abraham Lincoln delivered his revered Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863, at the dedication of the Gettysburg National Cemetery. Notably, he was not the keynote speaker scheduled that day. Preceding Lincoln’s address, renowned orator Edward Everett — an academic, politician, and diplomat — spoke eloquently for two hours. Lincoln delivered his 272-word address in two to three minutes, focusing on universal ideas of human equality, devotion, and sacrifice — nothing explicitly mentioning the Civil War. Afterward, an admiring Everett...Read More