We can only imagine the history of the free world today if, at the end of the Civil War, there had been two countries: the United States and the Confederate States of America.

President Abraham Lincoln never lost his ardor for the United States to remain united during the Civil War.

The United States needed a civil war to unite properly.

I never understand these "the south will rise again" people. Again? It never rose before. It tried to and Lincoln stomped its ass.

Across the sea fat kings watched and were gleeful, that something begun so well had now gone off the rails (as down South similar kings watched), and if it went off the rails, so went the whole kit, forever, and if someone ever thought to start it up again, well, it would be said (and said truly): The rabble cannot manage itself.

Well, the rabble could. The rabble would.

He would lead the rabble in managing.

The thing would be won.

Richard Kerry not only was a pilot in World War II, but was a civil servant. He did not come from money.