Bicameral Celebration of Abraham Lincoln’s Birthday:
A Congressional Tribute – 11:30 AM Feb. 12, 2009

President Barack Obama paid tribute to the former legislator from Illinois in the US Capitol rotunda and US Army Chorus resoundingly performed “Battle Hymn of the Republic” as House and Senate leaders convened to commemorate Lincoln’s 200th birthday.

Senators Dick Durbin, Jim Bunning, Mitch McConnell and Harry Reid addressed the assembly and Illinois Congressmen Jesse Jackson, Jr and Donald Manzullo recited the Gettysburg Address.  Other speakers included Rep. John Boehner; House Speaker Nancy Pelosi; ALBC Co-Chair Harold Holzer; Dr. Richard Norton Smith, former executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library; and Doris Kearns Goodwin, author and presidential historian.

Goodwin spoke intimately about Lincoln’s presidential leadership, and Dr. Smith addressed Lincoln’s early years as a state legislator and Member of Congress.  C-SPAN taped the Bicameral Tribute.

Remarks from speakers (listed in order of appearance) can be found below:

President Barack Obama
Senator Richard Durbin
Sen. Jim Bunning
Harold Holzer
Congressmen Jesse Jackson and Donald Manzullo, recited the Gettysburg Address.
Richard Norton Smith
Doris Kearns Goodwin
Rep. John Boehner
Sen. Mitch McConnell
Sen. Harry Reid
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi

Photos from Feb. 12, 2009