the president of the united states. the president of the united states, trying to stop the transfer of power. a president that had stood for 220 years, even as our democracy had faced its most difficult test. thinking back again to the civil war, in the summer of 1864, the president of the united states lead -- we would be doomed to be it for re-election. he believed his opponent, general george mclelened would wave the white flag when it came to preserving the union, but even with that grim fate hanging in the balance, president lincoln was willing to accept the will of the voters, come way may. he made a quiet pledge. he wrote down the words, this morning, as for some days past,