Lincoln's Complicated Legacy

Had John Wilkes Booth (the infamous assassin at the theatre) not turned Lincoln into a martyr, history might remember Honest Abe a bit differently. Sure, he freed the slaves, but he also made some controversial calls:

• Going to war instead of respecting states' rights? Check.
• Censoring the press and jailing political opponents? Double check.

Lincoln's presidency was more complex than a game of 4D chess. His assassination, tragic as it was, solidified his spot in the pantheon of presidential greats.