Abraham Lincoln

The Statue Speaks

The rifle in his right hand tells you everything you need to know. Lincoln didn't free the slaves with speeches—he freed them with war. That clenched fist in his left hand? That's resolve. That's a war president who knew some battles can only be won through force. He fought Democrats who wanted to preserve slavery, who wanted to tear this nation apart, who would rather see America burn than see freedom prevail. The rifle points down now because the war is won, but make no mistake—Lincoln was a warrior first. The vertical lines of his coat emphasize his towering presence, physically and morally. This is what a commander-in-chief looks like when he refuses to compromise with evil.