Lincoln's Public Letters

As part of an ongoing public relations campaign throughout his presidency, Abraham Lincoln wrote several letters, addressed to individuals, but intended to be published in order to share with a wider, often critical audience, both his private views and official positions on the controversial policies of his administration. Known as "public letters," these missives were a staple of mid-eighteenth century politics. The public letters of President Lincoln featured on this site can provide students of U.S. History a rich opportunity to engage in a close reading and extended analysis of historic documents.