Lincoln scholar to speak on Civil War president's persuasive skills in Jepson Leadership Forum lecture Nov. 5
October 23, 2008
Douglas L. Wilson, co-director of the Lincoln Studies Center at Knox College, will speak on Abraham Lincoln's underestimated literary ability as an asset to connect with constituents in "Abraham Lincoln and the Shaping of Public Opinion," Nov. 5, 7 p.m. at the University of Richmond's Jepson Alumni Center.
Lincoln had little formal schooling and Wilson says critics assumed he lacked literary competence as a result. Wilson's book "Lincoln's Sword: The Presidency and the Power of Words" contends Lincoln used that assumption to his advantage, enabling him to effectively communicate with and persuade the American public to follow his agenda.
Wilson is professor emeritus at Knox, where he taught American literature for 33 years and his work on Lincoln has appeared in Atlantic Monthly and Time magazines. He also has written five books including "Lincoln's Sword" and "Honor's Voice," which each earned Wilson the Lincoln Prize award from the Lincoln and Soldiers Institute at Gettysburg College.
Wilson's lecture is one of eight programs in the Jepson Leadership Forum's 2008-09 season focused on Abraham Lincoln's Legacy of Leadership. The series observes the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth and examines his legacy of moral leadership and political genius.
All Forum programs are free and open to the public. Tickets are required and can be reserved by calling (804) 289-8980.