He’d never get elected today! 8

His victory speeches are without equal. Every other politician in the world, whether he’s just been elected president or dogcatcher, reacts to his victory in exactly the same way: he gives a victory speech full of references to the historic sweep of what just took place; he will now begin the process of fulfilling all those promises and so Everything Will Be Different Now that we’ve swept the crooks out of office.

On the contrary, Lincoln sounds a far different tone. Listen to him after winning the Presidency in 1860: “I have been selected to fill an important office for a brief period, and am now, in your eyes, invested with an influence which will soon pass away; but should my administration prove to be a very wicked one, or what is more probable, a very foolish one, if you, the people are but true to yourselves and to the Constitution, there is but little harm I can do, thank God!”