we leave. ted is a distinguished lecturer at the city university in new york. he has been a contributor to such publication such as the washington post and the new yorker. and the new york times. and the times he edited the collection of the centennial essays call the union. he wrote a beautiful op-ed essay on james be cannon and abraham lincoln in 1860 and 1861. that op-ed was drawn from his new book. lincoln on the verge. 13 days to washington that i hope you see over one of my soldiers. i m not going to try to guess which one that is. it s a riveting account of winter, not just focusing on him but his surroundings. a real road passenger in the north as he made his way from being springfield to washington to become the most looked at president in history after that time. i am going to lead the conversation. at around 11, 11:15, we will go to the queue and a we have a long time to talk. i m asking the obvious question which we alluded to a few minutes ago, picture us in the