Existing comment:
Lincoln's Last Address:
On April 11, 1865, Abraham Lincoln gave his last public speech. He advocated extending the vote to "very intelligent" African American citizens and veterans. Before this speech, no president had ever publicly endorsed even limited suffrage for African Americans.
John Wilkes Booth was in the crowd. He turned to his coconspirator, Lewis Powell, and exclaimed, "That is the last speech he will ever make." Three days later Booth assassinated the president. |