Lincoln’s choices in these three stories demonstrate what's missing in 2025.
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| Abraham Lincoln's integrity built his legacy. A grateful nation built his memorial. |
In times of political turmoil and public distrust, the figure of Abraham Lincoln stands as a benchmark of honesty and courage. His career as a lawyer and statesman was defined by a refusal to compromise with lies, a willingness to defend the vulnerable, and a determination to confront deception at the highest levels of government. By examining three episodes — his refusal to take dishonest cases, his defense of Melissa Goings in Metamora, and his “Spot Resolutions” against President James Polk — we can see how Lincoln’s integrity offers a stark contrast to today’s crisis of truth in leadership.
✋ Refusing Dishonest Cases
Lincoln’s reputation as a lawyer was built not only on skill but on principle. He was known to decline cases if he believed the client was dishonest. Colleagues recalled that Lincoln would rather lose income than lend his name to a lie. This refusal to profit from deception established him as a man whose professional ethics were inseparable from his personal character.
In an era when truth is often bent for political or personal gain, Lincoln’s example reminds us that leadership begins with the courage to say “no” to dishonesty, even when it costs something.
⚖️ The Melissa Goings Defense
In 1855, Lincoln defended Melissa Goings, a woman in Metamora accused of killing her abusive husband. Lincoln knew the jury of all men would convict her so he helped her escape the courthouse. This case illustrates his willingness to stand with those who had been wronged, even when the circumstances could be personally and professionally damaging. Lincoln’s "defense" was not about winning "prestige" but about ensuring justice.
At a time when leadership is often measured by power or recognition, Lincoln’s advocacy for truth and fairness in the courtroom underscores the moral responsibility of leaders to protect the vulnerable rather than exploit them.
📍The "Spot Resolutions"
Lincoln’s insistence on truth reached the national stage in 1847, when he introduced the “Spot Resolutions” in Congress. He demanded that President James K. Polk identify the exact spot where American blood had been shed, challenging Polk’s justification for the Mexican‑American War. Critics mocked him as “Spotty Lincoln,” but his stand against executive deception demonstrated rare courage. Lincoln risked ridicule and political backlash to expose falsehoods at the highest level of government.
What makes this episode resonate today is the contrast with Congress’s reluctance to challenge executive power. Modern lawmakers often remain silent out of fear of retaliation from party leadership or the president, the loss of committee assignments or campaign support, and the risk of alienating voters in polarized districts. Many calculate that silence is safer than confrontation. Lincoln, by contrast, confronted Polk’s deception despite knowing it could damage his career. His example shows that honesty in leadership is not passive — it requires the courage to expose lies even when the political cost is high.
🏛 A Comparison to Today’s Crisis of Truth
Today, the United States faces a crisis of truth in leadership. A sitting president has been convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records, lies continuously about large and small matters, and the public trust in our political institutions continues to erode. Leaders in the administration and in Congress often seek recognition, prizes, or power while bending facts to suit their narratives. Against this backdrop, Lincoln’s example is instructive. He refused dishonest cases, defended justice in the courtroom, and confronted lies in Congress. All at personal or professional risk. His legacy demonstrates that true leadership is measured not by ambition or self‑promotion but by fidelity to truth and the courage to challenge deception.
🔚 Conclusion
Lincoln’s life offers a timeless lesson: honesty and courage are the bedrock of leadership. Whether in the courtroom, in defense of the vulnerable, or in Congress against a president’s falsehoods, Lincoln showed that integrity is not negotiable. In an age when deception threatens democracy, Lincoln’s example stands as a reminder that leaders must be willing to confront lies, protect truth, and act with courage — even when it costs them dearly.
Abraham Lincoln remains the benchmark against which all leadership should be measured.
Food for thought from the archives of Abraham Lincoln, Storyteller.
Mac
🎩 What happened when Abraham Lincoln stood beside a woman accused of killing her abusive husband? Find out in my post: The day his actions spoke louder than his words: Abe Lincoln and the Melissa Goings murder case
📚 Works Cited
Abraham Lincoln
Spot Resolutions (1847):
“Spot Resolutions.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spot_Resolutions
“Lincoln’s Spot Resolution.” U.S. House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives. https://history.house.gov/Records-and-Research/Listing/lfp_037/
“Lincoln’s Spot Resolutions.” National Archives. https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/lincoln-resolutions
Fisher, Louis. The Mexican War and Lincoln’s ‘Spot Resolutions’. Law Library of Congress, 2009
“Abraham Lincoln Protests the Mexican War.” Digital History. https://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/disp_textbook.cfm?smtid=3&psid=3672
Melissa Goings Case (Metamora, 1855):
“How Melissa Goings Avoided the Gallows When Abraham Lincoln Suggested…” Commonplace Facts. https://commonplacefacts.com/2025/05/18/melissa-goings-abraham-lincoln/
“Out of Court, Lincoln and Mrs. Goings Sculpture – Metamora, IL.” Waymarking. https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/wmJ9GR_Out_of_Court_Lincoln_and_Mrs_Goings_Sculpture_Metamora_IL
Loftus, Mark P. “Abraham Lincoln, Open Windows and Supposed Ethical Lapses.” Mark P. Loftus Blog. 2017
“Metamora Courthouse Where Abraham Lincoln Visited.” Abraham Lincoln Online. http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/sites/metamora.htm
“Unveiling the ‘Out of Court’ Statues in the Park.” Historic Metamora Association. https://historicmetamora.org/unveiling-the-out-of-court-statues-in-the-park/
Refusal of Dishonest Cases:
“List of Cases Involving Abraham Lincoln.” Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_cases_involving_Abraham_Lincoln
Stern, Michael L. “Abraham Lincoln.” Advocate Magazine. July 2014
Modern Leadership Context
Donald Trump Conviction (34 Counts, 2025):
“Fraudsters Lobbied Fraudster to Grant Presidential Pardon to Fraudster.” Yahoo News NZ. Nov. 2025
“Fact Check: Is Trump Guilty of the 34 Felonies.” Factually. Nov. 2025
“Trump Was Sentenced to an ‘Unconditional Discharge’ in His Hush Money Conviction.” PBS NewsHour. Jan. 2025
“Trump Becomes First Ex‑President Sentenced for a Crime: Recap.” USA Today. Jan. 2025
“In Historic First, Trump Gets Unconditional Discharge in Sentencing for New York Felony Conviction.” Houston Public Media. Jan. 2025
“Donald Trump Indictments, 2023–2025.” Ballotpedia. https://ballotpedia.org/Donald_Trump_indictments,_2023-2025
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