Challenges Douglas to joint debate July 17, 1858 Second defeat for Senator January, 1859 Cooper Institute speech February 27, 1860 Nominated for President May 16, 1860 Elected President November 6, 1860 Leaves Springfield for Washington February 11, 1861 Arrival at Washington February 23, 1861 Inaugurated President March 4, 1861 Renominated for President June 8, 1864 Re-elected President November 8, 1864 Second inauguration March 4, 1865 Assassinated April 14, 1865 Abraham Lincoln I THE MAN AND HIS KINDRED This is not a conventional biography. It is a collection of sketches in which an attempt is made to portray the character of Abraham Lincoln as the highest type of the American from several interesting points of view. He has doubtless been the subject of more literary composition than any other man of modern times, although there was nothing eccentric or abnormal about him; there were no mysteries in his career to excite curiosity; no controversies concerning his conduct, morals, or motives; no doubt as to his purposes; and no difference of opinion as to his unselfish patriotism or the success of his administration of the government in the most trying period of its existence. Perhaps there is no other man of prominence in American history, or in the history of the human family, whose reputation is more firmly and clearly established. There is certainly none more beloved and revered, whose character is so well understood and so universally admired, and whose political, moral, and intellectual integrity is so fully admitted by his opponents as well as his supporters.