The 1860 Presidential Debate - October 4, 2007
In thinking about what events we could do last fall, the what-if scenario of a Presidential debate was presented. Not an ordinary debate, but one between all four candidates in the 1860 Presidential campaign. While this debate never happened in 1860, it might have gone something like our little gathering - candidates bantering back and forth, using every angle possible to tear down their opponents. Oh, wait that's the current campaign. Anyway, we had a lot of fun and the turn-out was good for our first run. Watch the website for this year's debate, date TBA.
Moderator Ron Bryant as Governor Beriah Magoffin announces the event and welcomes the audience.
Background music provided by two members of the Allendale Melodians, Rick Bailey on the fretless minstrel banjo and Chris Propes on the fiddle (violin to flat-landers).
Keith Boyson delivers a riveting oration as Constitutional Union candidate, John Bell of Tennessee, who carried Kentucky in the Election of 1860.
Stephen Bowling portrayed the candidate for the Southern Democrats, Kentucky's own John C. Breckinridge. He quickly perceived the weaknesses of the other candidate's platforms to which he leveled a full broadside.
The Little Giant himself, Stephen A. Douglas, of the Northern Democrats is here portrayed by Donald Hagy. We later had to pry Breckinridge's hands off of Douglas's neck. Douglas also had to be seated well away from Lincoln who was still sore over the matter of a certain Ms. Todd years before.
Mrs. Bailey arrived to see the sight of these tight-laced gentlemen. Rumor has it that she stole away with the banjo player later that evening. We have seen neither since.
The inimitable Ron Elliot, author and gentleman orator, uses his country wisdom to excellence as Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln. It appears Douglas crept up behind with a blunt instrument intent on harm. Mrs. Lincoln was none the less affected.
Gov. Magoffin, hoping for a Douglas victory, seeks promises of a Cabinet position as he has ill omens about his term as Kentucky governor.
Friends of Kentucky History members, left to right Jane Bryant, Meghan Utter, Denise Moody, and June Farris. We have it on good authority that they muscled a goodly sum of money from passerby. The photographer had no money and was thus beaten severely with Mrs. Bryant's cane, so she now goes by the nickname "Preston Brooks".