Lincoln lacked social polish but he had great intelligence and knowledge of human nature. A great conversation from the lincoln by steven spielberg. A reliable source of comic relief in a film weighed down with false notes of levity, thaddeus stevens played expertly and judiciously by tommy. Thaddeus stevens, a radical republican from the state of pennsylvania, was the powerful chairmen of the ways and means committee. Thaddeus stevens april 4, 1792 august 11, 1868 was a member of the united states house.
The political genius of abraham lincoln, the film is at times a taut political thriller. This particular movie documents the last four months of the presidents life and his efforts to pass the th amendment of the constitution, abolishing slavery. Lincoln thaddeus stevens equal protection of law speech constitutional law tommy lee jones duration. Jul 14, 2017 lincolns rebuff to thaddeus stevens radicalism, staged between the two in the basement kitchen of the white house, is built around the image of a compass. Thaddeus stevens downplays his true political beliefs in order to gain passage of the amendment. Thaddeus stevens was firm on his hard stance on full equality for all negroes and whites on marriage and voting rights. Powerful antislavery parliamentarian thaddeus stevens, born in danville and raised in peacham, is prominently featured in steven. Considered the leader of the radical republicans in the house of representatives, he also played a major role at the beginning of the period of reconstruction, advocating very tough. The most politically radical character in steven spielbergs lincoln is also, not accidentally, the most entertaining. Thaddeus stevens was a republican leader and one of the most powerful members of the united states house of representatives. Quick fact check of stephen spielbergs movie lincoln. Thaddeus stevens contd lincoln the inveterate dawdler, lincoln the southerner, lincoln the capitulating compromiser, our adversary and leader of the godforsaken republican party, our party abraham lincoln has asked us to work with him to accomplish the death of slavery in america. The great commoner, thaddeus stevens was a pennsylvania congressman whig, republican 184953, 185968 and radical republican who often pressed president lincoln on war and emancipation policies. The movie even opens with soldiers reciting the gettysburg address.
One is that while both detested slavery, both were guilty stevens in 1821, lincoln in 1847 ofread more. Lincoln movie reconstructed thaddeus stevens house divided. A fierce opponent of slavery and discrimination against africanamericans, stevens sought to secure their rights during reconstruction, in opposition to u. As chairman of the powerful house ways and means committee, stevens, a witty, sarcastic speaker and flamboyant party leader, dominated the house from 1861 until his death. Then the border states wouldve gone over to the confederacy, the war wouldve been lost and the union along with it, and instead of abolishing slavery, as we hope to do in two weeks. Thaddeus stevens there are some interesting analogies between the careers of thaddeus stevens and abraham lincoln, noted stevens biographer ralph korngold. Lincoln himself loves to give a soliloquy, frequently telling long moral stories much to the frustration of his friends. Lincoln movie quotes i am the president of the united. That was also the only way to draw in people who would only be marginally interested. Steven spielberg directs twotime academy award winner daniel daylewis in lincoln, a revealing drama that focuses on. The film also features sally field, david strathairn, joseph gordonlevitt, james spader, hal holbrook, and tommy lee jones in supporting roles. Smith had one africanamerican grandparent, and her remaining three grandparents were caucasian.
Thaddeus stevens support for black suffrage, which provides one of lincolns central conflicts, really was one of his most radical and controversial stances. But if id listened to you, id have declared every slave free the minute the first shell struck fort sumter. Spielbergs lincoln movie was correct on thaddeus stevens in every aspect except one. Lincoln 2012 tommy lee jones as thaddeus stevens imdb. He wrote much of the financial legislation that paid for the american civil war. Thaddeus stevens tommy lee jones is also a convincing. Thaddeus stevens simple english wikipedia, the free. How can i hold that all men are created equal when here before me stands, stinking, the moral carcass of the gentleman from ohio. Lincoln 2012 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Lincoln, thaddeus stevens and why american politics still. Stevens, and i have tried to profit from the example of it. I dont hold with equality in all things, just equality before the law, nothing more. As the american civil war continues to rage, americas president struggles with continuing carnage on the battlefield as he fights with many inside his own cabinet on the decision to emancipate the slaves. Abraham lincoln has asked us to work with him to accomplish the death of slavery in america.
In the scene in spielbergs lincoln which introduces the audience to rep. Of standing ones ground despite guaranteed defeat, or downplaying ones beliefs in order to gain a small victory on the path to additional victories, which is more honorable. Tommy lee jones relishes playing stevens in lincoln news. As such, the depiction of stevens did earn tommy lee. House of representatives during abraham lincoln s presidency, fought to abolish slavery and helped draft the 14th amendment during reconstruction. Lincoln, thaddeus stevens, and why american politics still needs radicals the nation december 10, 2012. Nov 29, 2012 actually, lincoln regularly objected when others did. Shit on the people and what they want and what theyre ready for. Yes, thaddeus stevens was involved with an africanamerican woman named lydia hamilton smith. Zur verargerung stevens sah lincoln davon ab, afroamerikanische. Lincoln thaddeus stevens speaks to the house youtube. Thaddeus stevens and alexander coffroth conversation. And then, at least according to steven spielberg s new film lincoln, the widely despised old liberal lion of the house, thaddeus stevens, limps home through the throngs on his malformed club foot. However, lincoln only wanted to focus on equality under the legal definition of emancipation.
The film focuses on the final months of lincolns life, including the passage of the. Thaddeus stevens disagreed, urging lincoln to turn the war into a radical revolution that would end slavery and crush the power of the southern aristocracy. Radical republican congressional leader during reconstruction 186577 who battled for freedmens rights and insisted on stern requirements for readmission of southern states into the union after the civil war 186165. My favorite is not delivered by the president but instead by thaddeus stevens tommy lee jones, the radical republican congressman from pennsylvania. A fierce opponent of slavery and discrimination against africanamericans, stevens sought to secure their rights.
Lincoln the inveterate dawdler, lincoln the southerner, lincoln the capitulating compromiser, our adversary and leader of the godforsaken republican party, our party, abraham lincoln has asked us to work with him to accomplish the death of slvery in america. You know the inner compass that should direct the soul toward justice has ossified in white men and women, north. Steven spielbergs 2012 film lincoln, in which stevens was portrayed by tommy lee jones, brought new public interest in stevens. Retain, even in opposition, your capacity for astonishment. After the assassination of abraham lincoln in april 1865, stevens came into conflict with. Hollywoods love affair with thaddeus stevens us house of. Actually, lincoln regularly objected when others did.
I dont give a goddamn about the people and what they want. Lincoln, thaddeus stevens and why american politics still needs. Steven spielbergs latest historical drama chronicles the 16th presidents final months and his struggle for passage of the th amendment. With daniel daylewis, sally field, david strathairn, joseph gordonlevitt. The movie was a very accurate depiction of what these four months were like for lincoln, using many facts that are less known to most americans. Thaddeus stevens april 4, 1792 august 11, 1868 was an american republican leader. Stevens was a witty, sarcastic speaker and confident party leader. Did thaddeus stevens really have an africanamerican lover.
Thaddeus stevens r, pa, the chairman of the house committee. Nov 22, 2012 now, since the civil rights movement, we see them as courageous leaders advocating rights for africanamericans, and so we have a different viewpoint on thaddeus stevens. I was intrigued by the character played by tommie lee jones in the movie lincoln, so sought out a biography to learn more about this historical figure. While flawed, lincoln is a solid, mostly accurate portrait of a complex man. At a critical moment in the debate, racialequality advocate thaddeus stevens agrees to moderate his position and argue that the amendment represents only. Spielbergs film gets the presidents disposition right, but doesnt quite.
Lincoln is a 2012 biographical historical drama film directed and produced by steven spielberg, starring daniel daylewis as united states president abraham lincoln. Aug 31, 2018 thaddeus stevens was an influential congressman from pennsylvania known for his staunch opposition to slavery during the years preceding and during the civil war. Lincoln the inveterate dawdler, lincoln the southerner, lincoln the capitulating compromiser, our adversary, and leader of the god forsaken republican party, our party. Lincoln, thaddeus stevens, and american radicals richard. Thaddeus stevens r, pa, the chairman of the house committee of ways and means, the script describes the setting in stevens capitol hill office as redolent of politics, ideology a bust of robespierre, a print of tom paine, long occupancy and hard work p. Thaddeus stevens april 4, 1792 august 11, 1868 was a member of the united states house of representatives from pennsylvania and one of the leaders of the radical republican faction of the republican party during the 1860s.
A historian views spielbergs lincoln 2012 not even past. Do you feel that this makes him more principled or less principled. The hallmark of the man, performed so powerfully by daniel daylewis in lincoln, is calm selfconfidence, patience and a willingness to play politics in a realistic way. Lincoln ist ein usamerikanisches historiendrama des regisseurs steven spielberg. Abraham lincoln has asked us to work with him to accomplish the death of slavery. Thaddeus stevens was sexually involved with his devoted housekeeper, a mixed race woman named lydia hamilton smith. He was one of the most powerful members of the united states house of representatives from 1849 until his death in 1868. Abolitionist, radical republican, and thorn in the side of abraham lincoln and others.
This is the face of someone who has fought long and hard for the good of the people without caring much for any of em. Jul 14, 2017 and then, at least according to steven spielbergs new film lincoln, the widely despised old liberal lion of the house, thaddeus stevens, limps home through the throngs on his malformed club. If the movie had any chance of success, it had to focus on lincoln. In this regard, the lincoln movies historical accuracy is terrible. Free every slave, slay every traitor, burn every rebel mansion if these things be necessary to preserve this temple of freedom. Here, lincoln the movie introduces a memorable and noble stevens to a new generation. Nov 12, 2012 lincoln also follows the motives and machinations of thaddeus stevens, the stern, steely eyed chairman of the ways and means committee, a position that in the 19th century doubled as house. Thaddeus stevens prominent in spielbergs new lincoln movie. People must remember that this was a movie about abraham lincoln, not thaddeus stevens. Dec 10, 2012 but as aaron bady writes in an excellent jacobin essay, lincolns portrayal of thaddeus stevens is the clearest demonstration of how the movie disdains and diminishes the importance of.
White people cannot bear the thought of sharing this countrys infinite abundance with negroes. When thaddeus stevens is confronted by an outraged asa litton for denying the full humanity and equality of blacks, stevens tells him i want the amendment to pass, so that the constitutions first and only mention of slavery is its absolute. From misguided leader to fanatic avenger to outspoken statesman, the cinematic faces of thaddeus stevens varied widely, depending on the time the movie was made. Thaddeus stevens lincoln wiki fandom powered by wikia. Lincoln, the new steven spielberg film starring daniel daylewis in the title role and tommy lee jones as thaddeus stevens, presents a more positive picture of the old commoner than. A reliable source of comic relief in a film weighed down with false notes of levity, thaddeus stevens played expertly and judiciously by tommy lee jones is.