Lincoln movie reconstructed thaddeus stevens house divided. Meet the real thaddeus stevens, the man who inspired tommy lee jones impassioned. The screenplay by tony kushner was loosely based on doris. Thaddeus stevens speech of december 18 1865 thaddeus stevens speech of december 18 1865 the president assumes, what no one doubts, that the late rebel states have lost their constitutional relations to the union, and are incapable of representation in congress, except by permission of the government. He was chairman of the powerful house ways and means committee. When the people disagree, bringing them together requires going slow till theyre ready to make up thaddeus stevens. Michael zak, as in the lincoln movie, thaddeus stevens is a hero of back to basics for the republican party 29 january 20, grand old partisan. Hollywoods love affair with thaddeus stevens us house. Thaddeus stevens r, pa, the chairman of the house committee. P8993 per lincolns suggestion, a democrat approaches thaddeus stevens to cut a political deal in exchange for his vote. Thaddeus stevens, a radical republican from the state of pennsylvania, was the powerful chairmen of the ways and means committee. Thaddeus stevens was born on april 4, 1792 in rural danville, vermont. His mother moved the family to peacham, vermont in order to enroll the children at the caledonia grammar school. When thaddeus stevens and lincoln meet in the cellar of the white house to talk about cooperating on the th amendment, for example, stevens.
Hollywoods love affair with thaddeus stevens us house of. Was the metaphor told by abraham lincoln to thaddeus stevens. Thaddeus stevens support for black suffrage, which provides one of lincolns central conflicts, really was one of his most radical and controversial stances. Lincoln 2012 tommy lee jones as thaddeus stevens imdb. He was one of the most powerful members of the united states house of representatives from 1849 until his death in 1868. Abraham lincoln has asked us to work with him to accomplish the death of slavery. Was the metaphor told by abraham lincoln to thaddeus. He was one of the most powerful members of the united states house of representatives from 1849 until his death in 1868 he was chairman of the powerful house ways and means committee.
Spielbergs lincoln movie was correct on thaddeus stevens in every aspect except one. Radical republican congressional leader during reconstruction 186577 who battled for freedmens rights and insisted on stern requirements for readmission of southern states into the union after the civil war 186165. Thaddeus stevens speech of december 18 1865 the movie. Stevens was a strong abolitionist, who believed not only that slavery. Stevens graduated from dartmouth in 1814, and established a. Lincoln thaddeus stevens speaks to the house lincolnmovie. Ah, shit on the people and what they want and what theyre ready for. Lincoln s love of theater is shown midway through the film. With daniel daylewis, sally field, david strathairn, joseph gordonlevitt. Nov 09, 2012 though lincoln declines to agree with stevens in the moment, stevens does show a nodding appreciation for the presidents hardheaded commitment to passing the th amendment.
Had stevens, in his speech during the amendment fight, declared his. Jul 14, 2017 and then, at least according to steven spielbergs new film lincoln, the widely despised old liberal lion of the house, thaddeus stevens, limps home through the throngs on his malformed club. It may be jarring to the reader to see how much stevens disliked lincoln, even. In debate, his adversaries feared the sting of stevenss. There are some interesting analogies between the careers of thaddeus stevens and abraham lincoln, noted stevens biographer ralph korngold. There are few things i love more than a good movie speech. As in the lincoln movie, thaddeus stevens is a hero of.
Pettifogging tammany hall hucksters is probably the best of them. American political leader, born in danville, vermont, on the 4th of april 1792. Quick fact check of stephen spielbergs movie lincoln. He fought for complete racial equality all of his adult life.
And then, at least according to steven spielberg s new film lincoln, the widely despised old liberal lion of the house, thaddeus stevens, limps home through the throngs on his malformed club foot. Thaddeus stevens equality speech in the film lincoln 2012 full. For all its strengths, lincoln is still a comforting fantasy. This movie, relives president abraham lincolns last four months in office during the fourth year in the american civil war 18611865.
Thaddeus stevens april 4, 1792 august 11, 1868 was an american republican leader. The paper if lincoln hadnt died and thaddeus stevens speech of december 18, 1865, is an outstanding example of an essay on history. Lincoln is a historical retelling of the 16th president of the united statess attempts to get the thirteenth amendment passed, directed by steven spielberg and written by tony kushner, based on the acclaimed biography team of rivals by doris kearns goodwin. Lincoln, thaddeus stevens and why american politics still needs. After the assassination of abraham lincoln in april 1865, stevens came into conflict with the new. I love the film lincoln, but it takes a bit of artistic license in order to create an interesting and forceful plot to captivate the audience. Lincoln movie quotes i am the president of the united. Thaddeus stevens was considered a radical, which is proof we still need radicals in government to represent the interests of the greater good.
Shit on the people and what they want and what theyre ready for. As the american civil war continues to rage, americas president struggles with continuing carnage on the battlefield as he fights with many inside his own cabinet on the decision to emancipate the slaves. Lee jones brought his spirit back to life in steven spielbergs hit movie lincoln. During another house speech, stevens ripped into a proslavery. According to lincoln biographer carl sandburg, stevens stood at a railroad bridge, and lifted his hat. Fatuous nincompoop is one of the less elaborate things thaddeus stevens call his opponents. One is that while both detested slavery, both were guilty stevens in 1821, lincoln in 1847 of appearing in. Speeches have been the basis of entire movies the kings speech being the most obvious example. Retain, even in opposition, your capacity for astonishment.
In september, stevens gave a widely reprinted speech in lancaster in which he set forth what he wanted for the south. Lincoln the inveterate dawdler, lincoln the southerner, lincoln the capitulating compromiser, our adversary and leader of the godforsaken republican party, our party, abraham lincoln has asked us to work with him to accomplish the death of slvery in america. And then, at least according to steven spielbergs new film lincoln, the widely despised old liberal lion of the house, thaddeus stevens, limps home through the throngs on his malformed club. This is the face of someone who has fought long and hard for the good of the people without caring much for any of em. Jan 29, 2016 not only is thaddeus stevens a hero of steven spielbergs lincoln, he is on the cover of back to basics for the republican party though his movie does cast 19th century democrats negatively, spielberg is on record saying that the republican and democrat parties have switched positions.
Pennsylvanias thaddeus stevens, gaunt, grim, and badly bewigged, would appear to be a poor candidate for the silver screen. Lincoln, thaddeus stevens and why american politics. Thaddeus stevens april 4, 1792 august 11, 1868 was a member of the united states house of representatives from pennsylvania and one of the leaders of the radical republican faction of the republican party during the 1860s. Yet even you, pendleton who should have been gibbetted for treason long before today even worthless, unworthy you ought to be treated equally before the law. Thaddeus stevens was firm on his hard stance on full equality for all negroes and whites on marriage and voting rights. Lincolns rebuff to thaddeus stevens radicalism, staged between the two in. Stevens was a witty, sarcastic speaker and confident party leader.
Spielbergs film gets the presidents disposition right, but doesnt quite do. Dec 07, 2012 when thaddeus stevens and lincoln meet in the cellar of the white house to talk about cooperating on the th amendment, for example, stevens says that after the war, land owned by exconfederates. Upon his graduation from caledonia, stevens enrolled in dartmouth college where he excelled academically. Whats true and false in lincoln movie the daily beast. He graduated at dartmouth college in 1814, removed to york, pennsylvania, was admitted to the.
Thaddeus stevens, not only did he oppose all things democrat, he was one of the greatest republicans who ever lived. The movies climax is johnsons fanciful triumphant speech before the. I dont give a goddamn about the people and what they want. Lincoln is a 2012 biographical historical drama film directed and produced by steven spielberg, starring daniel daylewis as united states president abraham lincoln. Lincoln, thaddeus stevens and why american politics still needs radicals. Yet, he has appeared as a major character in three movies, each of which portrayed him in a different light. Mary todd lincoln and thaddeus stevens at the ball. Nov 22, 2012 now, since the civil rights movement, we see them as courageous leaders advocating rights for africanamericans, and so we have a different viewpoint on thaddeus stevens. In the scene in spielbergs lincoln which introduces the audience to rep. Representative stevens was chairman of the ways and means committee and the appropriations committee.
Thaddeus stevens equality speech in the film lincoln 2012. Abolition was actually more or less assured by the time the movie took. Steven spielbergs latest historical drama chronicles the 16th presidents final months and his struggle for passage of the th amendment. Dec 10, 2012 but as aaron bady writes in an excellent jacobin essay, lincolns portrayal of thaddeus stevens is the clearest demonstration of how the movie disdains and diminishes the importance of. In lincoln, the houses sinners beat the saint in the white. About this object pennsylvanias thaddeus stevens fiercely championed. Lincoln himself loves to give a soliloquy, frequently telling long moral stories much to the frustration of his friends. House of representatives during abraham lincolns presidency, fought to abolish slavery and helped draft the 14th amendment during reconstruction. One is that while both detested slavery, both were guilty stevens in 1821, lincoln in 1847 of appearing in court on behalf of a slaveholder against a fugitive slave woman.
While flawed, lincoln is a solid, mostly accurate portrait of a complex man. The film also features sally field, david strathairn, joseph gordonlevitt, james spader, hal holbrook, and tommy lee jones in supporting roles the screenplay by tony kushner was loosely based on doris kearns goodwins 2005. Lincoln, thaddeus stevens and why american politics still. Thaddeus stevens april 4, 1792 august 11, 1868 was a member of the united states house. There is vigorous debate, especially about lincolns intentions. But as aaron bady writes in an excellent jacobin essay, lincolns portrayal of thaddeus stevens is the clearest demonstration of how the movie disdains and diminishes the importance of. The greatest measure of the 19th century was passed by corruption, aided and abetted by the purest man in america. Lincoln thaddeus stevens speaks to the house youtube.
Thaddeus stevens simple english wikipedia, the free. Steven spielberg directs twotime academy award winner daniel daylewis in lincoln, a revealing drama that focuses on the 16th presidents tumultuous final months in office. The film also features sally field, david strathairn, joseph gordonlevitt, james spader, hal holbrook, and tommy lee jones in supporting roles. Foster thaddeus stevens in the poorer district of the town of lancaster, pennsyl vania is a secluded cemetery which holds the grave of one of our greatest and. In a nation divided by war and the strong winds of change, lincoln. And so again, sir, and again and again and again, i say, i do not hold with equality in all. Lincoln is a 2012 historical drama film directed and produced by steven spielberg, starring daniel daylewis as u. However, lincoln only wanted to focus on equality under the legal definition of emancipation. Thaddeus stevens there are some interesting analogies between the careers of thaddeus stevens and abraham lincoln, noted stevens biographer ralph korngold. The movie even opens with soldiers reciting the gettysburg address. White people cannot bear the thought of sharing this countrys infinite abundance with negroes. It stars daniel daylewis as lincoln, sally field as mary todd lincoln, joseph gordonlevitt as their son robert and has a supporting.
Congress shall mandate the seizure of every foot of rebel land and every. House of representatives during abraham lincoln s presidency, fought to abolish slavery and helped draft the 14th amendment during reconstruction. One is that while both detested slavery, both were guilty stevens in 1821, lincoln in 1847 ofread more. If lincoln hadnt died and thaddeus stevens speech of. Steven spielbergs lincoln 2012 follows the 1865 house passage of the. I dont hold with equality in all things, just equality before the law, nothing more. Aug 17, 2016 the thaddeus stevens society is raising money to erect a statue of stevens in gettysburg to recognize all the work he did there, according to ross hetrick, thaddeus stevens society president. Full text of thaddeus stevens see other formats by elizabeth lawson thaddeus stevens by elizabeth lawson 232 east 18 street, new york copyright, 1962, by elizabeth lawson printed in the u. Lincoln the inveterate dawdler, lincoln the southerner, lincoln the capitulating compromiser, our adversary, and leader of the god forsaken.
1511 432 301 818 32 913 160 547 896 261 1475 1094 268 579 1439 828 904 1228 991 1238 1614 639 1440 309 203 256 670 913 406 1062 772 611