Address of President Roosevelt on the occasion of the celebration of the hundredth anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, Hodgenville, Ky., February 12, 1909

On February 12, 1909, a crowd gathered in Hodgenville, Kentucky, to mark the hundredth birthday of Abraham Lincoln. President Theodore Roosevelt stepped onto the podium, delivering a stirring tribute that weaves together the humble origins of the Great Emancipator with his towering achievements. Roosevelt paints Lincoln as a labor‑worn frontiersman turned national savior, emphasizing his relentless sense of duty, moral courage, and unyielding resolve. The speech also draws a striking parallel between Lincoln and George Washington, highlighting their shared virtues despite very different backgrounds.

In the first act of his address, Roosevelt urges listeners to apply Lincoln’s blend of practical common sense and visionary imagination to the pressing social and industrial challenges of the early twentieth century. He calls for a balance of indomitable resolve and cool‑headed sanity, echoing the reforms that defined Lincoln’s presidency. The oration offers a vivid portrait of a leader whose moral compass guided a nation through civil war, providing timeless lessons for anyone interested in leadership, history, or the power of rhetoric.