April 11, 1865 – Lincoln’s Last Public Address

In 1865, President Abraham Lincoln spoke to a crowd outside the White House, beginning with the words, “We meet this evening, not in sorrow, but in gladness of heart.” It was the last public address Lincoln would deliver before his assassination three days later.

History Professor Louis Masur, who wrote a book about this speech, points out that Lincoln had written most of the speech weeks earlier in an attempt to convince Congress to readmit Louisiana to the Union. But Congress had balked. Now that Robert E. Lee had surrendered at Appomattox on April 9, Lincoln decided to take his case to the people.

Last photo of Lincoln, taken April 10, 1865

He spoke primarily about reconstruction of the Union, and the need for generosity towards the South. But in addition, to get Radical Republicans on his side, he also embraced limited black suffrage.

Masur recounts:

John Wilkes Booth was among the crowd who listened to Lincoln’s address. Hearing the call for limited black suffrage, Booth declared ‘that is the last speech he will ever make.’ A conspiracy to assassinate Lincoln was already afoot. But Lincoln’s speech on 11 April, and his call for black suffrage, led to the tragic event of 14 April when Booth made good on his word.”

You can read Lincoln’s entire speech here.