Lincoln, Abraham
1861–1865

Lincoln's defining commitments — Union preservation over faction, anti-slavery and the 13th-14th-15th Amendments, 'with malice toward none, with charity for all,' explicit anti-nativism (his 1855 letter denouncing the Know-Nothings: 'when the Know-Nothings get control, [the Declaration] will read all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics'), and deep religious humility ('both read the same Bible, and pray to the same God'). Paxton claims the Lincoln mantle as a Republican but his anti-immigrant framing, faction-first primary strategy, divisive style, and use of religious display in politics run hard against Lincoln's actual record. He wins partial credit on federalism, on framing himself as a 'Republican' in continuity with the party, and on his pro-tariff alignment (Lincoln was protectionist). Talarico's anti-faction framing, 'front porch' approach to immigration that mirrors Lincoln's anti-Know-Nothing stance, anti-corruption package, and religious humility track Lincoln's character. He loses on Lincoln's protectionist economics and on more progressive social policy that Lincoln in 1860 wouldn't recognize.