

But their versions of Lincoln are just drops in a veritable ocean of books - almost 15,000, to be precise - that assay Lincoln's legacy. President Obama and presidential hopefuls Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum each have put forward their own narratives of the life of Lincoln, fine-tuned to their own political purposes. In a new series, Morning Edition will take a fresh look at American political history, beginning with the figure who loomed over the 20 campaign - that tall, well-spoken senator from Illinois, often hailed for his significance in the history of American race relations. But presidential candidates profess to take a longer view: They consciously link their critiques and promises to the influential figures and debates of the past. In a 24-hour, Internet-fueled news cycle, political campaign reporters often seem to be focused on what just happened, and only what just happened.


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