Journalist Kirstin Downey talks about Frances Perkins, the subject of her book The Woman Behind the New Deal: The Life of Frances Perkins, FDR's Secretary of Labor and His Moral Conscience. As secretary of labor during FDR's presidency, Perkins initiated social-welfare reforms in areas including unemployment, child labor, immigration, and work-week length.

Heather A. Williams of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill discusses the paradox of Abraham Lincoln's legacy in popular culture—the simultaneous desire to "know" Lincoln and the impossibility of reconstructing a totally complete and objective picture of the man.

Loren Schweninger of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro describes the relationship between Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, including their meeting in the White House following Lincoln's inaugural address.

Joseph T. Glatthaar of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill describes President Abraham Lincoln's military policy, focusing on his emphasis on saving the Union and the place of race issues in this philosophy.

Paul D. Escott of Wake Forest University looks at Confederate expectations going into the Civil War that the war would be swift and decisive, and contrasts them with Jefferson Davis's expectations. He also outlines the challenges the South and Davis faced during the war, and attempts to assess Davis's performance as a leader.

William C. Harris of North Carolina State University describes the qualities Lincoln possessed that directed his leadership decisions during the Civil War.

According to the Key West Literary Society's journal homepage, Historian Eric Foner "explores the social and political implications of historical inquiry, and the role of the imagination in the historian's work. Drawing on sources as diverse as Jane Austen, Friedrich Nietszche, Newt Gingrich, and Diane Feinstein, Foner says society's understanding of history is both reflected in and shaped by contemporary thought. Rebutting a popular claim regarding 'facts' in the historical record, Foner argues that 'the constant search for new perspectives [is] the lifeblood of historical understanding.'"

Historian Harold Holzer compares Lincoln's 1861 Address at Independence Hall and Obama's Race Speech at the Constitution Center.

To listen to this lecture, select "Historian Harold Holzer compares Lincoln's Address at Independence Hall and Obama's Race Speech at the Constitution Center" under "Supplemental Materials" in the right sidebar.

Historian Harold Holzer compares Abraham Lincoln's 1860 Cooper Union Speech and Barack Obama's 2008 Race Speech at the Constitution Center.

To listen to this lecture, select "Historian Harold Holzer compares Lincoln's Cooper Union Speech and Obama's Race Speech at the Constitution Center" from the sidebar on the right side of the page.

Three speakers present in this second half of an all-day symposium commemorating the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln. Lucas E. Morel presents "Lincoln on Race, Equality and the Spirit of '76"; Lincoln's lifelong interest in language is the subject of a talk given by Douglas L. Wilson; and Elizabeth D. Leonard delivers the final presentation of the symposium, "Ally on the Team of Rivals: Lincoln and His Point Man for Military Justice," in which she discusses Judge Advocate General Joseph Holt, the president's chief of the War Department's Bureau of Military Justice.

The first half of this symposium may be found here.