Lincoln: Movie critic series No. 10, Lincoln’s voice and oral history

It was said that Daniel Day-Lewis strides to talk like Lincoln did.  Based on the accounts n Lincoln’s day, his voice was “reedy, high and a little twangy”.  Gregory Peck (one of my most respected and admired actors—a pharmacist by training) played Lincoln in the TV miniseries, The Blue and the Gray in early 1980s.  Peck’s grand and deep voice would be quite different from that of Day-Lewis.

Can you imagine that we have the recordings of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, Second Inauguration, or Springfield Farewell Address?  My heart would be heavy when I hear he said “I now leave, not knowing when, or whether ever I may return. . .”)

“You have sat too long for any good you have been doing lately ... Depart, I say; and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!”

The above is what Oliver Cromwell uttered in the House of Commons in Dissolution of Long Parliament in 1653. It would be thrilled if this speech was recorded.  Leo Amery quoted this, also in the same House, trying to force Chamberlain to step down as the Prime Minister in 1940.  A very powerful speech.

I began to appreciate the importance of oral history after reading and listening Jacqueline Kennedy’s historic conversations on life with John F. Kennedy, interviews with Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.  The recording was done a few months after JFK’s assassination.  It was released and published last year.  Listening to what she said, nearly 50 years later, makes one feel history comes alive.  Oral history is more powerful and convincing, no concern that one may be misquoted.

Writing about Lincoln, I invariably come to JFK.