Hoe come Lincoln thought his Gettysburg Address speech was a failure even though...?

Question

it is seen as one of the best speeches given by an american?

Answer 1

Hard question to answer, because in fact, the idea that this Address was a failure is a MYTH!! Sorry, that source linked to in a previous answer, while a nice little script, had many of the facts WRONG, perpetuated a number of myths about the speech. To correct a few:

Lincoln did NOT suggest that he thought the speech a failure (that's someone's imagination).

The whole thing about his not having had time to finish it ... and still working on it on the way to Gettysburg and while there is, at best misleading:

- Yes, he was "still working on it" to the last minute, but that's because he ALWAYS worked to the last minute trying to perfect whatever he wrote, though he often had spent MUCH time in writing it

- We know the timeline of the invitation... Lincoln had PLENTY of time to write an address of this length, he KNEW that it was supposed to be rather brief from the start. He had also been LOOKING for an appropriate opportunity to speak.

- In fact, Lincoln actually experimented with the ideas that turned into this speech FOUR MONTHS before, just after the battle of Gettysburg (and Vicksburg). In particular, he had taken note of the significance of these two battles ending on the fourth of July. He remarked on the timing in a quickly prepared speech on July 7, just after new of the Vicksburg victory was confirmed. But in this first 'vetting' of his thoughts he was a bit less eloquent, "How long ago is it?--eighty odd years--since on this Fourth of July for the first time in the history of the world a nation. . . declared as a self-evident truth that 'all men are created equal'?"


As for how the speech was regarded at the time --

It is true that a few newspapers that ALWAYS criticized the President dismissed his words, but that was NOT the general reaction. For example:

a) many newspapers quickly began to shower him and his speech with praise

b)The very NEXT day, Edward Everett (the featured speaker who preceded Lincoln) remarked to him, "I should be glad, if I could flatter myself, that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion, in two hours, as you did in two minutes" (to which Lincoln responded humbly and graciously, as was his wont)

c) Immediately afterward, an impressed listener asked Seward if HE had had a hand in writing it (perhaps knowing Seward had helped draft Lincoln's First Inaugural Address) Seward answered, "No one but Abraham Lincoln could have made that address."

Answer 2

Having to learned most of if not all of the Gettysburg address in late elementary school I too believe it was a great speech, but the reason it might be considered a failure could be due to the circumstances that faced the country at the time which it was given.It was such a good speech that they even had an attraction at Disneyland where you could watch President Lincoln give a speech. I was under 10 at the time so don't remember what the speech said but I was inspired by the mere elegance of the attraction and can only imagine the scene w Gettysburg Address. I don't know if this answered the question but I just thought it should be shared with those that don't remember the attraction...
enjoy Lenin Patino

Answer 3

The ceremonies began with a prayer.
Then Edward Everett, former senator and governor of Massachusetts, rose to speak.
Everett stood silent for a moment.
He looked out across the battlefield and the crowds that now covered it. He began to talk about the Civil War and what had caused it.
Everett spoke for almost two hours.

Then Lincoln stood up. He looked out over the valley, then down at the papers in his hand. He began to read: "Four score and seven years ago,.........."

The crowd applauded for several minutes. Then the people began to leave.

Lincoln turned to a friend. He said he feared his speech had been a failure. He said he should have prepared it more carefully.

Edward Everett did not agree with Lincoln. He said the president's speech was perfect. He said the president had said more in two minutes than he, Everett, had said in two hours.

Newspapers and other publications praised Lincoln's Gettysburg address. Said one: "The few words of the president were from the heart, to the heart. They cannot be read without emotion."

Answer 4

Lincoln wasn't the cheeriest kind of guy your ever met; I seriously suspect that he sufferd from bouts of Depression- from time to time. On top of THAT- there was a War going on, & alot of Americans were dying on BOTH sides... He was probably Tired of the War, tired of the people who were second-guessing his handling of it, & tired of giving long speeches that nobody seemed to listen to. So what He probably did; was "Throw something Short & Simple together..."- and figured everybody'd Forget about it in a few weeks... And THAT's what makes Lincoln one of our BEST Presidents...-that even His "Throw-away" Speeches- were good enough to be rememberd -forever... :)

Answer 5

he followed some one who spoke for over a hour and his was only a couple of minutes,but we all know now that was one of the best speeches ever.......how many presidents speeches are memorized by every student,only one!yes it is the best by an american,..............or mabye MLK.hnnnmmmm.

Answer 6

The crowd was silent after his speech. He thought this was a sign of failure. In reality, they were stunned by its poignancy.

Answer 7

Because it was so short. Back in those days, orators used to go on for hours.