From
“Lincoln 365,” by Arnold Kunst
December 9
What Lincoln called Public Opinion baths took place from 10
- 2 on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 10 - 12 on Tuesday and Thursday. For
the public it was a fairly simple arrangement: first come, first served.
Usually Lincoln would greet each individual with “what can I do for you?” Then
he would listen and would promise to do what he could if the request were
reasonable. If he was in a hurry to get rid of someone, he would crack a joke
and with both of them laughing would ease the caller out the door. Among other
things, since these meetings happened so regularly Lincoln had a consistently
firm grasp on the concerns of ordinary people. In addition, the meetings served
as a tonic in a city like Washington where overweening ambition and hypocrisy
had – and, according to some people, still has - a way of warping facts beyond
recognition.
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