All About Abe

   Well, where do I start?  I was born in a log cabin in Kentucky on February 12th, 1809.  That means next week I will be 201!! Happy birthday to me!  I don't have a middle name, but I don't think I need one, Abraham is a pretty great name all by itself. 
When I was 7, my family moved to Illinois.  This was to be the site of my first successes in law and government.
   My first love was a lady named Ann Rutledge (shh, don't tell my wife).  We were engaged to be married, but she died.  I was so sad.  Eventually, I married Mary Todd, who was the daughter of a slaveholder.  We had four sons, Robert, Edward, William (Willie), and Thomas (Tad).  Unfortunately, Edward and Willie were called to heaven much too soon.
    My political career started in 1834 when I became a state legislator. I served one term as a   United States Representative from Illinois.  (1846-48).  I returned to Illinois, and began to once again practice law.  Although you may know me as being the "Great Emancipator", my early politics were usually against the repeal of slavery.  Although I have always hated the practice of slavery, I knew that speaking out against it was "political suicide". I accepted the Republican nomination for President in 1860.   I beat Stephen Douglas, along with John Breckenridge and John Bell to become the 16th ,President of the United States.
   Unfortunately, I inherited a country on the brink of war, and by December of 1860, South Carolina had seceeded.  This was the first state, but not the last.  Eventually, 11 states formed "The Confederate States of America".  What a bunch of babies.  "A House Divided Against itself Cannot Stand".  Although it was a long and bloody war, the boys in blue were able to take down those rascally rebels.  I had to travel to a city in Pennyslvania called Gettysburg a few months ago to dedicate a huge cemetary to honor the Union dead.  Man, was I nervous about THAT speech.  This windbag spoke for hours before I got to podium, and made me feel really unprepared. 
   Well, I must be going.  Mary is nagging me to take her to see this new play "My American Cousin."  I know she won't leave me alone until we go.