If Lincoln Lived

By Raphael Richman

This reality-based, alternate history was motivated by the continuing explicit and implicit racism in the United States, including the on-going, extra-judicial killings of non-violent, unarmed Blacks by poorly screened, poorly trained police and delusional, die-hard white supremacists.

Millions of us, including many of our leading lawmakers, not only deny the existence of systemic racism but seem blind to the cumulative harm of the continued injustice. We laid an immoral burden on the backs of Black Americans. We've been adding to it for generations. We are still suffering from the inability of millions of our fellow citizens to acknowledge the harm we've done and allowed to fester.

So I wondered, What Could Have Been If Lincoln Lived? Might he have been inspired by other people of goodwill to reimagine Reconstruction? The Reconstruction we created was undermined by craven politicians and white supremacists within just fifteen years of Lincoln's death. What could have been if people of color had been allowed to earn the respect due every human being; if they had been allowed a fair shot at opportunity and security? What could have been if these kidnapped African-Americans had been allowed to prosper in step with other minorities and whites ... to realize their dreams?

The story emerges from a single fantasy. Lincoln invites Frederick Douglass, a run-away slave who had made himself the most celebrated abolitionist of his time, to join him at Ford's Theater on the fateful night of April 14, 1865. Arriving in Washington a few days early, Douglass chances to learn about John Wilkes Booth pro-Confederate views. Douglass arrives at the theater alone and is spotted by Booth in the lobby. Booth is incensed at the idea of a Negro entering his white domain but has no idea that Douglass is Lincoln's guest. Later, when Booth enters Lincoln's box to kill the president, Douglass is able to intervene. He saves Lincoln's life, but both are wounded. In the hospital they bond and recognize things they have in common: Impoverished childhoods; learning to read and write from the bible; a love of Shakespeare; rising from poverty to become major national figures; having to struggle with the questions of freedom and equality for four million ex-slaves.

Lincoln invites Douglass to the White House to help him reimagine Reconstruction while they recuperate. They are joined by Elizabeth Keckley, another ex-slave but one who bought her freedom using the sewing skills she developed as a slave and her entrepreneurial spirit. Keckley is also a real historical figure. She established a booming business in Washington, became the fashion consultant to Mary Todd Lincoln, and was a frequent visitor to the White House. Keckley horns her way into the meeting Lincoln and Douglass have planned. She turns out to be a key contributor. When the two men are stuck and sulking after three days of heated debate, she is the one that comes up with a practical, creative solution on how to begin to integrate the four million newly freed but largely penniless Negroes.

The story has a number of ironic twists and a big one at the end. The very racism prevailing in the nation turns out to give birth to the solution. Lincoln seizes on Keckley's idea, seeing it as a kind of Trojan Horse, an inspired way to get Congress to pass new legislation that will ensure a path to equality and equity.

A path that would have been straighter and faster than the one we've been on for the past 155 years. That is, of course, If Lincoln Lived.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Raphael Richman
• Release date: Mar 16, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005683542

Book preview

IF LINCOLN LIVED

Raphael Richman

If Lincoln Lived

Copyright 2020 Raphael Richman

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only.

This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to others.

Thank you for respecting these terms.

E-book formatting by Maureen Cutajar

www.gopublished.com

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1 – Reaching Out

Chapter 2 – Lincoln Lives

Chapter 3 – Roommates

Chapter 4 – Visitors

Chapter 5 – Lonely Burden

Chapter 6 – Friendship

Chapter 7 – The Game’s Afoot

Chapter 8 – The Gordian Knot

Chapter 9 – Reconstruction Reexamined

Chapter 10 – Alter Egos

Chapter 11 – Point, Counterpoint

Chapter 12 – Epiphany

Chapter 13 – The Devil’s In The Details

Chapter 14 – The Truth Will Set You Free

Chapter 15 – The Way Forward

Endnotes

About Raphael Richman

Prologue

This reality-based, alternate history was motivated by the continuing explicit and implicit racism in the United States, including the on-going, extra-judicial killings of non-violent, unarmed Blacks by poorly screened, poorly trained police and delusional white supremacists.

Since Lincoln was first elected in 1860, we endured a Civil War causing millions of casualties and deaths; we established the groundbreaking Civil Rights Acts of 1866 and 1871; and three Constitutional Amendments designed to secure equality for four million enslaved African-Americans. All that struggle for good has been undermined by White oppression, violence and intentional demeaning of their worth. Good intent has also been undermined by willful evasion of the Rule of Law at all levels of government. Today, a century and a half later, people of color are still being treated unjustly. Since 1954, our further attempts to legislate equality of opportunity and equitable treatment have helped but have been resisted by far too many.

Millions of us, including many of our leading lawmakers, not only deny the continued existence of systemic racism but seem blind to the cumulative harm of the continued injustice. We laid an immoral burden on the backs of Black Americans. We've been adding to it for generations.

So I wondered, What Could Have Been had Abraham Lincoln lived and been inspired by other people of goodwill to reimagine Reconstruction? What Could Have Been, had people of color been accorded the respect due every human being; had they got a fair shot at opportunity and security? What Could Have Been had we appreciated the resilience and determination it took simply to survive enslavement? What Could Have Been if African-Americans had been allowed to prosper in step with other minorities and whites. What Could Have Been had they been truly free, over the past eight generations, to realize their dreams?

I hope to demonstrate how things could have been. How we could long ago have begun to erase and transcend racial tensions. How we all could have benefited from the blessings of A More Perfect Union.

If only!

RR - 1/31/2021

Chapter 1

Reaching Out

Astonishing! Wondrous! Je-hos-ha-phat! Frederick Douglass shouted and slapped his thigh with such force it sent the THWACK resounding in all directions. Then, he reread the telegram and simply said, Well, I’ll be.

Will there be a reply?, asked the delivery boy, smiling up at this towering, handsome, well-dressed black man, with a magnificent, crown of tightly curled black hair. Douglass is doing a happy little jig on the wide front porch of his Rochester farmhouse.

Yes! Yes, indeed, son. Just give me a minute to discuss this with my wife. Come on inside and have a seat in the foyer. There’s a bench over there by the stairway.

It’s Saturday morning, April 8th, 1865. Frederick and Anna had been sitting by the fireplace after an early breakfast. It’s April and the mornings have been quite cold. A crackling fire feels good even though they’re both bundled up against the drafts in the old farmhouse. Douglass usually takes it easy on weekends, but he’d woken up with an idea for a new speech he was slated to make. He had just been getting his thoughts down on paper when they heard knocking at the front door.

Anna looks up from her sewing as Douglass literally runs in to the parlor. What on earth’s got into you? she asks. Douglass’s expression is alive with energy as he reads her the message.

President Lincoln invites you and your wife to join him and the First Lady at Ford’s Theater for a special performance of the comedy ‘Our American Cousin.’ Friday, April 14, at 8pm. Underneath the formal invitation he’s written a special greeting – ‘My dear friend, although this isn’t a play by our esteemed William Shakespeare, I believe you will, nonetheless, enjoy it; and, Mary and I will enjoy your company. Sincerely, A. Lincoln, President.’

Anna has gone back to her sewing. She quietly says, I’d rather not go, Frederick. I just wouldn’t feel comfortable at all with all those highfalutin’ Washington folk.

Douglass isn’t surprised by her demurral. Unlike him, Anna has no interest whatsoever in the theater. She has never even expressed an interest in learning to read. He knows she’d never fit in with the elite Washington politicos and their elegantly dressed wives. They’d stare at her and judge her. Presidential invitation or not, the trip could only end up humiliating her.

He doesn’t try to persuade her, saying honestly, That’s fine dear. I understand completely.

Anna has always seemed happiest being a homemaker, something she does brilliantly. She’s been a homebody for the 27 years of their married life, taking care of their children while he’s earned his living on the road. Frederick has often wished Anna could participate with him but knows she can’t. He knows she’s lonely and hurt by his long absences. Their marriage has been hurt as well.

Douglass gives speeches all over northeast, from Indiana to New York and everywhere in between. His fiery talks urge everyone to back his Abolitionist agenda. His appearances are always sold out. People flock to hear the anti-slavery movement’s most dynamic speaker. He had also been writing editorials for the last journal he founded, Douglass’ Monthly. He’d abandoned that in ‘63. He loved putting his ideas on paper and having them reach thousands but the business end of it always got in his way. He’d founded three different journals over the past sixteen years but one day, two years back, he said to himself

Frederick, you’re an activist and an orator not an administrator! Stick to speaking. And, he has.

Douglass sits down and writes 2 telegrams. The first, accepting Lincoln’s invitation with regret his wife is unable to join them. The second, to his friend John Eaton, an assistant commissioner of the just formed Freedmen’s Bureau. Douglass had stayed at his home on a previous trip. If Eaton can’t accommodate him for the week of April 10-14, he can find lodging through other friends like Mrs. Thomas Dorsey. Her husband was a freed slave with a catering business in Philadelphia. He’d become wealthy enough to invest in Washington D.C. real estate.

On Sunday afternoon, April 9th, Lincoln is back at the White House having just returned from a trip to Virginia on the steamboat River Queen with Mary, son Tad, and friends. Richmond, the Confederate Capital, has finally been taken. It’s been three years and at least a half-million more deaths since General McClellan’s reluctance to fight let Richmond slip from his grasp. Ulysses S. Grant’s siege has lasted 292 days and seen three all-out battles. The war is, at last, being won.

Lincoln, felt that some of his burden had been lifted, said, Thank God I have lived to see this. Seems like I’ve been dreaming a horrid dream for four years, and now it’s gone.¹

Upon returning to The District, Lincoln’s first act is to visit his Secretary of State. Seward is recuperating after a nearly fatal carriage accident the week prior and confined to his bed. Rushing upstairs to be at Seward’s bedside, Lincoln hoped to be able to lift the older man’s spirits.

William, thank goodness you are alive and not more seriously injured. I heard about the accident while en route to Virginia. We’ve just returned. I came immediately to see you.

Seward just winces at Lincoln’s booming entry. At 64, he’s eight years older than the president, but he looks older than his years. He cannot speak. His jaw has been wired shut and he’s obviously in pain. Frail and miserable, he lay on his uninjured side at the edge of the bed. Only his eyes respond. Lincoln realized he would have to do all the talking and keep his voice down. To match the moment, he lay down on the other side of the bed. Slowly and in a near whisper, he related the latest events to his injured colleague.

William, let me tell you the wonderful news. Grant has taken their capital and Jeff Davis has fled to parts unknown. Grant has produced a stunning success. Lee’s army of 40,000 men has been forced from the area. They are now in full retreat southward. The battlefield at Petersburg is still strewn with corpses and the hulks of destroyed batteries. But Grant is not sitting still. He is in pursuit and hopes to cut Lee’s forces off at Appomattox. We are all on pins and needles awaiting more news from him. If he stops Lee’s escape to safety in North Carolina, we may well see the end of this wretched war.

Lincoln went on about the trip for a while. Seward’s back was turned to the president, so he stood up to see how he was doing. Seward had mercifully drifted off to sleep.

Back at the White House that evening, Lincoln received two telegrams. He tore open the one from Grant and was overjoyed to read that Grant had arranged Lee’s surrender that very day. He penned a quick reply to Grant. "I thank God for