National Affairs: Lincoln: Invisibly There

Their prepared texts studded with Abraham Lincoln quotations, Republican Cabinet members, Congressmen and lesser lights boarded planes out of Washington last week for a traditional political rite: the delivery across the land of some 5,000 speeches honoring the birthday (150th) of their party's father. But, to the outrage of Republican National Chairman Meade Alcorn, the Democrats stole the Lincoln Day show by laying on the biggest celebration of them all, right there in Washington. Democratic leaders in both houses set up a solemn joint session to hear the U.S. Army band play patriotic tunes, the U.S. Coast Guard cadet chorus sing Civil War songs (Dixie, Battle Hymn of the Republic), and Actor Fredric March read the Gettysburg Address.

Carl August Sandburg, 81-year-old poet of the American dream and of Lincoln's greatness, raised the political ploy into a true and moving memorial service. In 19 spellbinding minutes that brought tears even to the eyes of Dixie Senators, Sandburg chiseled his finest tribute to the Lincoln "invisibly there, today, tomorrow and for a long time yet to come in the hearts of lovers of liberty."

And in the next morning's newspapers the speech-making Republicans on the road got hardly a line.