Presidential Library showcases rare Abraham Lincoln letter to help Black friend

The short handwritten note is a typical letter of reference for a man seeking a job But the author is the president of the United States It is also 1861 and the job seeker is a Black manAbraham Lincoln penned the entreaty on behalf of his young friend William Johnson because ironically his dark complexion caused freed Black White House staffers with lighter skin to shun himThe difference of colour between him and the other servants is the cause of our separation Lincoln wrote in the March 16 1861 letter that private collector Peter Tuite donated in August to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum where it is now on public displayThe letters recipient Navy Secretary Gideon Welles reported he had no position availableFor a president in the mid19th century to show such personal concern for a Black mans welfare is astounding But consider that Lincoln was fewer than two weeks removed from his inauguration taking over a country rent by secession on the brink of a bloody Civil WarThe brief missive contains layer upon layer of revelations about Lincolns presidential debut said Christina Shutt executive director of the library and museumWe see him trying to help a friend We see that even the new president cannot casually hand out jobs Shutt saidWe see issues of class and colour within the White HouseLittle is known about Johnson before he started work in 1859 as a valet and driver for Lincoln in Springfield He travelled to Washington with the presidentelectLincoln referred to the then28yearold Johnson in letters as a coloured boy But the individual favour he bestowed on Johnson was characteristic of the Great Emancipator said James Conroy a retired Massachusetts attorney and historian whose books include a survey of Lincolns White House said Lincoln treated the White House staff largely made up of freed African Americans with respectIn a separate article on the subject Conroy wrote that Lincoln never demanded service but asked staffers politely and let them bear no hardship he could liftNobody can question that Lincoln was a very kindly guy very empathetic trying to help people when he could Conroy told The Associated Press And that crossed Black and white and male and female and everything else He was a genuinely good guyIt wasnt until November that Lincoln found Johnson a position at the Treasury Department Lincoln maintained a close working relationship with Johnson paying him to shave the president daily and often act as chauffeurJohnson accompanied Lincoln to Pennsylvania in November 1863 for the Gettysburg Address Johnson nursed Lincoln when he showed symptoms of a mild case of smallpox during the tripJohnson died of smallpox in early 1864 It is possible he contracted it from the president or during one of several outbreaks in Washington at the timeWhile Johnson was sick Lincoln collected his paycheck and ensured it got to Johnson Lincoln later paid for Johnsons coffin and offered to pay off a USD 150 loan of Johnsons but the bank forgave half of itThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever