"The Father and the Saviour of Our Country," 1865

During the late 19th century, no one would have equated Abraham Lincoln with the most esteemed American of all time, George Washington. Opinions about President Lincoln were too divisive. But the more Lincoln was paired with Washington, the stronger his reputation grew until, by the early 20th century, Lincoln--"man of the people"--eclipsed the more aristocratic Washington in popularity.