The First Republican President

President Abraham Lincoln served as the first Republican president, elected in 1860 in a four-way race.

An interesting story about Lincoln's beard. Mr. Lincoln was always clean shaven until just a few weeks before the election. Grace Bedell, an eleven-year-old girl, sent a letter to the candidate compelling him to grow whiskers. Her words: "You would look a great deal better for your face is so thin." She said if he grew a beard she would try to convince her brothers to vote for him and that women would persuade their husbands, as well.

When the Civil War erupted in 1861 Lincoln's commitment to principles outweighed the counsel of his cabinet. Against their advice, January 1, 1863, the President signed the Emancipation Proclamation that declared freedom for all those enslaved in the Confederate Territory. The war waged on for two more years as Union soldiers fought to enforce the order. In Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865 (also known as "Juneteenth"), a special decree was read that ordered the freeing of 200,000 slaves in the state. This marked the end of the Civil War and slavery.

A cruel assassination tragically ended Mr. Lincoln's life and presidency; but under his strong leadership, our nation changed for the better. Following his passing, the Republicans of his day worked to pass the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments that outlawed slavery, guaranteed equal protection under the law and secured voting rights for all men regardless of their race.