By David J. Kent
Washington, D.C.
Saturday, May 7, 2022
The Lincoln Group of DC is sponsoring a series of events to celebrate the centennial of the Lincoln Memorial dedication. Other groups have programs too, and we are happy to support the U.S. Capitol Historical Society in a program to honor this special 100th anniversary. Lincoln Group President David J. Kent will offer brief opening remarks.
On May 24, 2022, the USCHS is hosting an in-person and live-streamed event to discuss the legacy of our nation’s greatest present. You can register here for the program, described by USCHS:
Our panel of experts will discuss the surprisingly hostile Congressional debate over the construction of the Lincoln Memorial. They will answer: Why was America’s most visited monument almost never built? Why did the Speaker of the House once proclaim, “So long as I live, I’ll never let a memorial to Abraham Lincoln be erected in that God d— swamp”? How did Lincoln's son work to preserve his father's memory? And what role did Congress play in the Memorial becoming hallowed American ground?
The program will be held in the Rayburn House Office Building across the street from the Capitol, from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm on May 24, 2022. The program is free for all, but you must register in advance.
A slate of prestigious historians will sit as panelists to discuss this important history. Featured are:
Brian Keefe, President of Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home
Susan Mandel, author of "The Lincoln Conspirator" in The Washington Post Magazine
Chandra Manning, Georgetown University Historian
Shema Mbyirukira, Archer Center Lecturer
The event will also be livestreamed. All in-person attendees who register at least 48 hours in advance will receive a free boxed lunch. All in-person attendees will also be given a free voucher for an outside Capitol tour hosted by the USCHS. Please give yourself ample time to navigate through security and be directed to the meeting room.
The United States Capitol Historical Society was organized in 1962 to study and interpret to the public the rich heritage of the Capitol building and the United States Congress. It is the only private non-profit educational organization dedicated solely to recording the history of the building and Congress, which serves as the instrument by which the American people govern themselves.