Abraham Lincoln: A New Birth of Freedom

Combining historical photos with narration by such luminaries as Peter Coyote and Louis Gossett, Jr., this program offers a highly entertaining and historically accurate portrayal of Abraham Lincoln, from his presidential candidate days through his fateful evening at Ford's Theater. What really sets this video apart from other Lincoln bios, however, is its emphasis on defining Lincoln's feelings (both personal and presidential) about the slavery issue. The popular image of Lincoln "freeing the slaves" with the Emancipation Proclamation is, of course, not nearly as simple and straightforward as it's sometimes been presented in historical overviews, and this program does a good job of offering a more realistic portrait of a man deeply divided between his personal feelings and what was politically expedient. Interviews with Lincoln scholars and contemporary politicians help viewers to understand both the terrible choices faced by Lincoln and why his decisions helped to make him one of the most influential persons in American history. Recommended. Also available, The Plot to Kill Lincoln, at the same price. Aud: H, C, P. (J. Carlson)