Remarks By Senator Richard Durbin At A Ceremony Marking The Bicentennial Of The Birth Of Abraham Lincoln

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(Applause.)

SEN. DURBIN: I've had the honor to serve the last several years as co-chair of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. I want to acknowledge Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood, who inspired this commission and has done a great job in bringing us to this day. Ray, thank you so much. (Applause.)

My fellow co-chair, Harold Holzer, will have a few words -- remarks later.

I want to take just a moment to acknowledge the members of the commission. They have worked so hard to make this week and the year to follow memorable in the eyes of the nation. Dr. Jean Bandler of Connecticut, who is here, the daughter of former U.S. Senator Paul Douglas, honored that you're with us. (Applause.) Darrell Bigham is here from the state of Indiana -- (applause) -- Gabor Barit (ph) from the state of Pennsylvania -- (applause) -- my friend Jim Bunning, who will speak a little later; not with us today, Julie Seleni (ph) of Springfield, Illinois; Joan Flintsbak (ph), who is here from Indiana -- Joan, thank you -- (applause) -- Dr. Jim Horton (sp) from the District of Columbia; the honorable Jesse Jackson, who will be part of the program a little later -- (applause) -- Laura Lynn Ryan (sp) from Illinois; Louise Taper (ph) of California -- I thank her; as well as Tommy Turner of Kentucky, thank you for being part of this -- (applause) -- and the former chief justice of the Supreme Court of Rhode Island, Frank Williams. Thank you, Frank. (Applause.)

I also want to thank my former colleague in the Senate for coming here today and speaking. We are so proud of President Obama and all that he has meant to our nation, and we still celebrate that great inauguration.

Now, across the street from this great building is the Library of Congress, which Dr. Billington takes good care of. A new exhibit opened there today, which I hope you'll see. It's a good place for a Lincoln exhibit; that's where Lincoln used to stay, in the boarding house, when he was a member of the House of Representatives -- the Spriggs Boarding House on the side of the Library of Congress.

Now, in the treasures that you'll find at the Library of Congress, you'll find Lincoln's own handwritten copy of his immortal Second Inaugural Address and his arithmetic book that he owned when he was about 10 years old. In a boyish scrawl underneath the table of weights and measures, little Abraham Lincoln, who would become America's greatest president, wrote this poem:

"Abraham Lincoln his hand and pen

He will be good but God knows when."

(Laughter.)

When he died at age 56, the last casualty of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln had achieved not only goodness, but greatness. Over his unequaled lifetime, he used his hand and pen to produce some of the most beautiful and haunting words in the English language, words that redefined for all time the meaning and promise of this nation. In our darkest hour, he preserved the union, and he made this nation keep the promise in our Declaration of Independence that "all men are created equal."

In the summer of 1864, Lincoln was deeply discouraged about the war and his own chances for reelection. He asked some Ohio Union soldiers to stop by the White House before they went back home. His words to them expressed more than just appreciation; they revealed Lincoln's belief about democracy and his hope for the future.

This is what he said: "I am a living witness that any one of your children may look to come here, as my father's child has. It is in order that each of you may have, through this free government which we have enjoyed, an open field and a fair chance for your industry, enterprise and intelligence; that you may all have equal privileges in the race of life, with all its desirable human aspirations. It is for this the struggle should be maintained, that we may not lose our birthright."

And then he concluded, "The nation is worth fighting for to secure such an inestimable jewel."

As we celebrate the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln's birth, let us also rededicate ourselves to finishing his unfinished work, ensuring that all Americans do indeed enjoy equal privileges in the race for life. It won't be easy, but as Lincoln showed us, if we will work and sacrifice and remain united, all things are possible.

Thank you. (Applause.)

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