Lincoln's Compassionate Plea: Rare Letter Reveals President's Efforts to Help Black Staffer

In a remarkable historical find, a handwritten letter from President Abraham Lincoln in 1861 has been put on public display at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. The letter, written just two weeks into Lincoln's first term, was addressed to Navy Secretary Gideon Welles and sought employment for William Johnson, a young Black man whom Lincoln considered a friend.

The letter sheds light on Lincoln's compassion and efforts to support Johnson despite the racial divisions of the era. Lincoln noted that "the difference of colour between him and the other servants is the cause of our separation," referring to how Johnson's darker complexion had made him an outcast among the White House's lighter-skinned, freed Black staffers.

Despite this, Lincoln maintained a respectful and considerate relationship with Johnson, who had first worked as the president's valet and driver in Springfield in 1859 and later accompanied him to Washington. By November 1861, Lincoln managed to secure Johnson a post at the Treasury Department, though he continued to assist the president, shaving him daily and often driving his carriage.

Tragically, Johnson contracted smallpox during his service and died the following year. Throughout his illness, Lincoln personally collected Johnson's pay to ensure he received it, and even offered to repay a $150 loan on his behalf, part of which the bank later forgave. The museum's display of Lincoln's letter highlights the president's act of compassion and friendship across racial lines during a time when the nation was on the brink of civil war.