Looting and Destruction of The White House in 1864-65 Journalist Noah Brooks wrote in early 1864, “People who visit the White House usually have a free range over the East Room and one or two of the adjoining parlors; accordingly relic-hunters (let us hope they are no worse), have acquired the practice of cutting out […]

The Case of Major John Key After the Battle of Antietam and the release of the draft Emancipation Proclamation, it came to President Lincoln’s attention that Major John J. Key had said that defeating the Confederate army on the battlefield was not the Union objective: “That is not the game…” Abraham Lincoln’s White House >

Favors & Requests Jobs and promotions were a frequent topic of conversation. A difficult early case was presented in March 1861 by fiery Kentucky politician Cassius M. Clay, who later recalled how protested his appointment as American Minister to Spain and ended up Minister to Russia: “I at once went on to…” Abraham Lincoln’s White […]

Pardons & Clemency Because the President was considered a compassionate man, many requests for pardons and deferrals of executions came to him. During his presidency, he reviewed over 1600 cases of military justice. Mr. Lincoln called many cases of military cowardice his… Abraham Lincoln’s White House >

Final Cabinet Meeting On April 14, 1865, the day President Lincoln was assassinated, the cabinet gathered for the last time. President Lincoln met a variety of Administration and congressional officials that day while finding time to take a carriage ride with his wife that afternoon and go to the theater that night. Carl Sandburg wrote… […]

Post-Election Cabinet Meeting, November 11, 1864 On November 11, 1864, President Lincoln was reelected with the Electoral College support of all but New Jersey and Delaware. The prospects for his reelection had fluctuated wildly during 1864. Early in the year, supporters of Salmon Chase had tried… Abraham Lincoln’s White House >

Emancipation Proclamation The production of the Emancipation Proclamation took place in stages – as the president sought to balance pressure on him from pro-emancipation and anti-emancipation groups. For example, Senator Charles Sumner visited “White House twice on July 4 to plead that the President…” Abraham Lincoln’s White House >

Cabinet Meetings Many of the most important decisions of the war were made here at noon meetings on Tuesdays and Fridays – a structure that was instituted after Cabinet members complaints about the lack of scheduled meeetings. And virtually all meetings of the cabinet were held… Abraham Lincoln’s White House >

Visitors Mr. Lincoln himself explained why the reception of visitors was important to administration of the government: “For myself, I feel–though the tax on my time is heavy–that no hours of my day are better employed than those which thus bring me again within the direct contact and atmosphere of the average of our…” Abraham […]

Passage of Thirteenth Amendment Illinois attorney Leonard Swett said he spoke to President Lincoln in October 1863 about a constitutional amendment to abolish slavery: “I told him… I believed the result of this war would be the extermination of slavery; that Congress would…” Abraham Lincoln’s White House >