Students at the university of illinois where we both were studying under harold hymen, one of the greatest of the field of constitutional history and reconstruction. And although les received his b. A. And masters degree at the university of illinois, where he was able to root for his beloved chicago cubs, he later disserted that by going to Rice University when professor hymen moved there and received his ph. D. At Rice University where unlike many people he published not just one book out of his dissertation but two. And fortunately one of his books that he published out of his dissertation arrived at a perhaps auspicious time, the impeachment of Andrew Johnson in 1973. You may know what else happened in 1973. Les, as though of us who know him call him, has also been president of the society for historians of the guilded age. He was also a distinguished lecturer for that organization. And a very important mover in that organization, but les has also been extremely active as an author
Reconstruction. Es received his ba and masters degree at the university of illinois, where he was able to root for his beloved chicago that by later deserted going to Rice University when professor hyman moved, and received his phd at Rice University, where unlike many people, he published not just one book out of his dissertation, but two. Unfortunately one of his books that he published out of his dissertation arrived at perhaps an auspicious time, the ineachment of Andrew Johnson 1973. You may know what else happened in 1973. , as those of us who know him call him, has also been president of the society for historians of the gilded age, a distinguished lecturer for that organization, and a very important mover in that organization. But he has also been extremely active as author and publisher and speaker in demand all over the country. I recently saw him speaking to the texas humanities council. I am not sure how much advice they took from him, based on what i have heard, but at lea
Peter i am going to use the lectern for just a minute. Thank you very much. It has been my pleasure to know our speaker tonight for more years than probably either of us would like to admit. I first met les when he was one of the brightest young graduate students at the university of illinois, where we both were studying under harold heiman, one of the greats in the field of constitutional history and reconstruction. Although les received his ba and masters degree at the university of illinois, where he was able to root for his beloved chicago cubs, he later deserted that by going to Rice University when professor hyman moved, and received his phd at Rice University, where unlike many people, he published not just one book out of his dissertation, but two. Unfortunately one of his books that he published out of his dissertation arrived at perhaps an auspicious time, the impeachment of Andrew Johnson in 1973. You may know what else happened in 1973. Les, as those of us who know him call
not all convinced it was only the traitors. they were worried that any expression of political opinion against the republicans which was their normal way of doing things would get them into trouble. so you don t see after a while the democratic press objecting to the rule of law. meaning the most extreme right wing democratic editors are generally considered to be treacherous. well, let me ask this. we re a bunch of lawyers and judges here, but and most people have said over the years, at least in modern times that all the great societal issues eventually end up in court. but what strikes me about what you said is how little ended up in court during that period. now, of course, during that time we didn t have the application of the first amendment to the states incorporation hadn t occurred, but state courts were open. one would think these issues would be litigated constantly in state courts. why not? there are so few examples of it, and again, the wonderful example that
be more passive. lincoln is known as the great pardoner when it came to deserters who had death sentences imposed on them. by the same token, he was probably the biggest executioner in the history of the military because a lot of people who are accused of convicted of desertion were executed, they were shot. lincoln was always walking a the w and morale building. so letting generals have their they were on the ground. he didn t have instant access to the conditions on the ground.tis inept as so often they did like bernside who had been banished to the west because he d done such a bad job in ea this was the guy who lost the battle of fredericksburg and ends up closing the chicago times in 1863, he was walking a fine line. chicago times waa b bad idea. you used the word passive a few moments ago and reminded me of the bell that kept ring i was listening to your really faemarks. the editors seem so passive. where were all the editors? who was rising up to defend the