THE SPEECH THAT CONVINCED REPUBLICANS THAT ABRAHAM LINCOLN WAS PRESIDENTIAL TIMBER:  On this day in 1860, Lincoln gave his famous Cooper Union address in New York.

One eyewitness described it this way:  “When Lincoln rose to speak, I was greatly disappointed. He was tall, tall, — oh, how tall! and so angular and awkward that I had, for an instant, a feeling of pity for so ungainly a man.” However, once Lincoln warmed up, “his face lighted up as with an inward fire; the whole man was transfigured. I forgot his clothes, his personal appearance, and his individual peculiarities. Presently, forgetting myself, I was on my feet like the rest, yelling like a wild Indian, cheering this wonderful man.”