While taking undergraduate college studies, Ron Koehn came to realize that “Abraham Lincoln stands out as a premier President of the United States.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia states: “In political studies, since the mid-20th century this” opinion continues, with several sources ranking A. Lincoln as “the best or greatest of all American Presidents.”
On Sunday, July 20, 2025, Koehn, of Fulton, IL, returns to Morrison’s Heritage Museum, 202 E. Lincolnway, Morrison, IL. to present a PowerPoint program titled “What’s So Special about Lincoln?” He will feature Abraham Lincoln during his Presidency (1861-1865.) Emphasis will be on the qualities and attributes, which served Lincoln well as our 16th President.
All Morrison Historical Society programs are free and open to the public. Doors open at 1:00 p.m. The building is available to all visitors, with front steps and a ramp at the back parking lot. Koehn’s PowerPoint presentation will begin promptly at 1:30.
In reference to the historical rankings of Presidents of the United States, Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia states: “In political studies, since the mid-20th century, surveys have been conducted in order to construct historical rankings of the success of Presidents of the United States. Ranking systems are usually based on surveys of academic historians and political scientists, or popular opinion. The scholarly rankings focus on Presidential achievements, leadership qualities, failures, and faults. Among such scholarly rankings, Abraham Lincoln is most often ranked as the best, while his predecessor James Buchanan is most often ranked as the worst.’
The obvious question is why? Why has Lincoln been ranked repeatedly as the best or greatest of all the American Presidents? Why have both Democratic and Republican Presidents revered Lincoln? Koehn will attempt to answer those questions by examining some of Lincoln’s outstanding qualities and attributes which help to explain the success and greatness of President Lincoln.
President Lincoln is shown meeting Major General George B. McClellan (sixth from the left) in 1862, at Headquarters.
Koehn formerly taught Social Studies for 29 years at Fulton High School–primarily U. S. History, Sociology, and American Government. He received both of his degrees from Illinois State University at Normal, IL: a Bachelor of Science in Education in History and Political Science and a Master of Science in History. For ten years he served as Fulton High’s first Scholastic Bowl Coach.