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The Tuscarawas Valley Civil War Round Table

/ October 24, 2024

The event

The Tuscarawas Valley Civil War Round Table will meet on Thursday, October 24 at 6:30 PM in the Community Room of the Dover Public Library, located at 525 N. Walnut Street in Dover. The featured presenter will be famed Abraham Lincoln portrayer Kevin J. Wood, who will present, “The Political Lincoln: Honest Abe on Campaigns and Elections.”
It is commonly said that Abraham Lincoln failed numerous times to be elected to various offices until he was finally elected President. Come hear Mr. Lincoln himself prove the absurdity of that claim while describing his many interesting campaign and election experiences over a long and eventful career and during a time of political intrigue and tumult when the very destiny of our nation was at stake. From 1832 when a humble 23-year-old political newcomer sought his neighbors’ vote to be one of their state representatives to 1864 when a politically savvy, incumbent President – beloved by some and despised by others – strove to unite a fractured nation, Mr. Lincoln’s campaign and election history is educational, entertaining, and inspirational.
Did you know that Lincoln once faced an opponent who slandered him as an infidel; that of nine direct elections by the people, he only lost once; that in his famous Senatorial defeat to Stephen Douglas he actually won the popular vote; that in a previous Senatorial attempt he sacrificed his own chance for the sake of the anti-slavery cause; that at the 1860 Republican convention in Chicago his supporters used some trickery to improve his chances at the nomination; that after he was elected President in 1860, dissenters attempted to disrupt the certification of the vote by Congress; or that in 1864 the Republican Party changed its name? Learn about all of this and much more as “Honest Abe” dishes on campaigns and elections, and shares some of the lessons he learned along the way.
Mr. Lincoln is portrayed by Kevin Wood, a professional Lincoln presenter who bears a remarkable resemblance to “the Great Emancipator” and who is extremely knowledgeable about his life and times. Mr. Wood has been portraying Mr. Lincoln since the year 2000, and on a professional basis since 2015. He has made over 2,200 appearances in 33 states plus Washington DC and two foreign countries: Canada and Spain. The mission of the Tuscarawas Valley Civil War Round Table is to educate the community about the American Civil War, to preserve Civil War heritage and to remember those who struggled for their cause. For more information please call the Dover Public Library at 330-343-6123.