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What did Edward Everett say about the Gettysburg Address?

Published in Gettysburg Address Commentary 3 mins read

Edward Everett, the distinguished orator who delivered the main address at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery at Gettysburg, expressed profound admiration for Abraham Lincoln's concise and impactful Gettysburg Address.

Edward Everett's Acclaim for Lincoln's Address

Following Lincoln's brief yet powerful speech on November 19, 1863, Edward Everett sent a letter to the President. In this letter, Everett famously remarked about the Gettysburg Address:

"I should be glad, if I could flatter myself that I came as near to the central idea of the occasion, in two hours, as you did in two minutes."

This statement highlights Everett's immediate recognition of the profound depth and conciseness of Lincoln's words. It is particularly ironic that the length of these two speeches has been so widely discussed, as Lincoln's Gettysburg Address stands out as one of his shortest yet most enduring efforts.

Contrasting Speeches at Gettysburg

The dedication ceremony at Gettysburg featured two vastly different oratorical styles, both important in their own right, but only one achieved lasting historical prominence.

Edward Everett's Oration

Edward Everett, a renowned speaker, former U.S. Senator, Governor of Massachusetts, and President of Harvard University, delivered the keynote address. His speech was a masterful example of classical oratory, meticulously detailing the historical context of the battle and its strategic importance.

  • Length: Approximately two hours.
  • Style: Formal, highly detailed, historical narrative, rich in classical allusions and traditional rhetorical devices.
  • Content: A comprehensive recounting of the Battle of Gettysburg, honoring the Union soldiers and explaining the significance of the victory.

Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

Abraham Lincoln's speech followed Everett's lengthy address. Despite its brevity, it powerfully redefined the purpose of the Civil War, linking the conflict to the foundational principles of American democracy.

  • Length: Approximately two minutes.
  • Style: Eloquent, poetic, philosophical, direct, and deeply emotional.
  • Content: A reaffirmation of the nation's founding ideals of liberty and equality, a dedication to the fallen soldiers, and a call for a "new birth of freedom" to ensure the survival of government "of the people, by the people, for the people." You can read the full text of Lincoln's pivotal speech on the National Park Service website.

The contrast in delivery and impact is summarized in the table below:

Feature Edward Everett's Oration Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address
Duration ~2 hours ~2 minutes
Primary Focus Historical account of the battle, traditional eulogy Reaffirmation of national ideals, call to preserve democracy
Legacy Highly regarded at the time, but largely overshadowed by Lincoln's speech Universally recognized as one of the greatest speeches in American history

The Enduring Legacy of Everett's Recognition

Everett's compliment was not merely polite flattery; it was a genuine acknowledgment of Lincoln's unique ability to encapsulate profound meaning in a few well-chosen words. His immediate appreciation for the Gettysburg Address helped to solidify its initial positive reception and underscored its immediate and lasting power to capture the central idea of the sacrifice made at Gettysburg.