President's
Day falls on February 18th. Thus, it seems altogether fit and proper to
devote this month's President's Page to George Washington and Abraham
Lincoln, two of America's greatest Presidents.
One newspaper said of Washington's visit
to New York City upon the conclusion of the War for Independence, "He
comes! 'Tis mighty Washington! Words fail to tell all he has done!"
Although the stories about him never telling a lie, or of having wooden
teeth, or throwing a dollar across the river were just "urban legends",
Washington still goes down in history as one of our greatest presidents.
Washington is not called the "Father
of our Country" for nothing. For one thing, the Founders created
the office with him in mind. Secondly, many of the traditions he first
established are still followed today. For example, he gave the first inaugural
address, humbly noting that:
"AMONG the vicissitudes incident to
life no event could have filled me with greater anxieties than that
of which the notification was transmitted by your order, and received
on the 14th day of the present month. On the one hand, I was summoned
by my country, whose voice I can never hear but with veneration and
love, … On the other hand, the magnitude and difficulty of the
trust to which the voice of my country called me, …could not but
overwhelm with despondence one who …ought to be peculiarly conscious
of his own deficiencies."
Modestly, he preferred to be known as "Mr.
President" and not as "His Highness the President of the United
States of America, and the Protector of Their Liberties", as some
would have had it. He repressed the so called Whiskey Rebellion, and the
constitutional amendment limiting presidential terms was also patterned
after Washington, who limited himself to two terms. He did enjoy certain
benefits of office, however. He was paid $25,000.00 per year, which is
roughly a million dollars in today's dollars. And he was also known to
enjoy a good glass of port wine.
What can you say about Abraham Lincoln that
has not been said before? It has been reported that more has been written
about Lincoln than any other person in history. He probably is also the
most quoted. During the Civil War, when a critic called General Grant
a drunk, Lincoln replied "Find out whatever he's drinking and give
it to the rest of my generals."
Proudly, Lincoln was one of 25 lawyers who
have served this country as President of the United States. It can surely
be said that without the contribution of lawyers, like Lincoln, the face
of our nation would look dramatically different.
Another thing I admire about Lincoln is his
remarkable perseverance in the face of adversity. Before being elected
President, he had lost most of the elections he ever participated in.
A brilliant orator, he also penned the Gettysburg Address, one of the
greatest speeches ever written.
I close with a final anecdote about the "Great
Emancipator". Before publishing the Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln
asked for a show of hands from his Cabinet as to who favored its publication.
When no one raised their hand, Mr. Lincoln raised his, declaring "The
ayes have it". Indeed they do.
Fred Spitzzeri has had an active
trial practice for over 20 years. A former insurance defense attorney
with a large firm, he currently is a sole practitioner concentrating in
civil litigation, especially in the area of personal injury practice.
He is a Certified Arbitrator and Mediator, and an adjunct faculty member
at North Central College. Over the years he has served as both a Prosecutor
and a Hearing Officer for the Illinois Secretary of State, and currently
serves as a Hearing Officer for the Illinois State Board of Education
on an independent contractual basis resolving disputes involving special
needs students. Fred is a cum laude graduate of Loyola University School
of Law, where he served as Captain of both the Trial Practice and Moot
Court teams, won the 7th Circuit's Client Counseling Com-petition, and
received the Am Jur Award for Professional Responsibility. He is admitted
to practice before the Federal Trial Bar for the Northern District of
Illinois, and before the United States Supreme Court.
President's
Day falls on February 18th. Thus, it seems altogether fit and proper to
devote this month's President's Page to George Washington and Abraham
Lincoln, two of America's greatest Presidents.