Up To Date

Jon Meacham on Abraham Lincoln and the importance of moral commitment

By Steve Kraske,

Published November 3, 2022 at 9:15 AM CDT

Ways To Subscribe

When author Jon Meacham set out to write about the life of Abraham Lincoln, he wanted to "explore not just how he did what he did, but why."

By the time Lincoln became president, Meacham said, he had developed a moral commitment: He was firmly anti-slavery.

Without that commitment, Meacham said, "you push us toward the abyss of autocracy and the triumph of the search for power over everything else."

Jon Meacham, author of "And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle"

Tags

Up To Date Podcast Books Lincoln history author politics

Steve Kraske

When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.

See stories by Steve Kraske

Danie Alexander

As senior producer of Up To Date, I want our listeners to hear familiar and new voices that shine light on the issues and challenges facing the myriad communities KCUR serves, and to expose our audiences to the wonderful and the creative in the Kansas City area. Just as important to me is an obligation to mentor the next generation of producers to ensure that the important conversations continue. Reach me at alexanderdk@kcur.org.

See stories by Danie Alexander