Clark H. Lewis, President         Art & Carol Bergeron, Editors
P. O. Box 1122                    3901 Paces Ferry Road      
Richmond, VA 23218                 Chester, VA 23831-1239   

November 2002 PROGRAM

Dr. Thomas J. DiLorenzo

"Lincoln's Second American Revolution"

Tuesday, November 12, 2002, at the
Willow Oaks Country Club, 6228 Forest Hill Avenue
6:00pm - Cash Bar, 7:00pm - Dinner, 7:45pm - Meeting Begins

Dr.  Thomas J.  DiLorenzo is professor of economics  in  the
Sellinger  School  of  Business  and  Management  at  Loyola
College in Maryland.  He holds a Ph.D.   in  economics  from
Virginia  Polytechnic  Institute and State University (1979)
and  a  B.A.   in   economics   from   Westminster   College
(Pennsylvania).   He has held full-time faculty positions at
George Mason  University,  State  University  of  New  York,
Washington  University  in St.  Louis, and the University of
Tennessee  at  Chattanooga.                                 

DiLorenzo is  the  author  or  co-author  of  eleven  books,
including  his  latest,  The  Real  Lincoln:  A  New Look at
Abraham  Lincoln,  His  Agenda,  and  an  Unnecessary   War,
published  by  Random  House.   Among  his  other  books are
Official Lies: How Washington  Misleads  Us;  The  Food  and
Drink  Police:  America's  Nannies,  Busybodies,  and  Petty
Tyrants; and Underground Government: The  Off-Budget  Public
Sector.   DiLorenzo has also published more than 70 articles
in  academic  economics  journals,  including  the  American
Economic    Review,   Economic   Inquiry,   Public   Choice,
International Review of Law and Economics, and many others. 

DiLorenzo is a member of the senior  faculty  of  the  Mises
Institute  in  Auburn,  Alabama,  an educational institution
that is devoted to advancing the  work  of  the  free-market
"Austrian"  school of economics.  He is also a member of the
Mont  Pelerin  Society,  an  international  association   of
scholars devoted to the free society.                       

In   his   presentation,   DiLorenzo  will  argue  that  the
"revolution" that historians like James McPherson  refer  to
was  a  revolt  against the principles of the Declaration of
Independence, the Constitution, and the  federal  system  of
government  that  was  created by the founding fathers.  The
Old Republic was overthrown and in its  place  was  put  the
consolidated  empire that, according to DiLorenzo, "we slave
under today."                                               


Review of the October Program


Dr.  Gabor S.  Boritt gave an  informative  presentation  on
President  Abraham Lincoln, focusing on three aspects of his
personality and political career.  Boritt began by reminding
the audience that the most important fact about studying the
Civil War or Lincoln is that we must put ourselves  back  in
that  time-to  find  the  proper  context  in  which  events
occurred.                                                   

The first aspect of Lincoln's personality Boritt covered was
his sexual orientation.  Some modern historians have written
that Lincoln was gay.  Their basis  for  this  assertion  is
that, for three years in Kentucky, Lincoln shared a bed with
his best friend, Joshua Speed.  Boritt pointed out that this
situation was extremely common in the nineteenth century and
had nothing to do with a person's  sexual  orientation.   He
chastized  modern  writers  for  trying to make judgments of
nineteenth   century   personalities   based   upon    early
twenty-first century viewpoints.                            

Next, Boritt talked about Lincoln and race.  The question is
often asked, "Was  Lincoln  a  racist?"  That  term  had  no
meaning  in  the  nineteenth  century.  At that time, around
99.9% of Americans believed that  whites  were  superior  to
blacks.   Critics  have  called  Lincoln  "Racist in Chief."
Lincoln's speech at Charleston  during  the  Lincoln-Douglas
Debates contains clear language about white superiority, but
he said that he opposed the  expansion  of  slavery  in  the
territories.  According to Boritt, Lincoln was responding to
statements  by  Douglas  about  race.   Illinois  had   laws
prohibiting  blacks  from  entering  the state.  Lincoln was
simply saying that he supported the Illinois constitution.  

Boritt explained that Lincoln  changed  and  grew  in  time.
Frederick  Douglass commented on how Lincoln "rose above the
prejudice of his time." Lincoln was the first  president  to
entertain  blacks in the White House.  He asked a painter to
live at the mansion and paint his  portrait  as  the  "Great
Emancipator." Boritt said that Lincoln thought that this was
his most important legacy.                                  

Finally, Boritt spoke briefly about Lincoln  and  the  Civil
War.  He said that there was a terrible burden on Lincoln as
war president.  Lincoln did not relish war but knew that the
conflict was necessary to preserve the Union.               

In  response  to questions, Boritt expressed his belief that
Lincoln was an absolutely remarkable human  being.   He  was
not  well  educated  but  became  a  master  of  the English
language.  Lincoln surrounded himself with  smart  men.   He
was  not afraid of them and knew how to use them.  According
to Boritt, Lincoln was not an atheist.   He  got  away  from
Christianity  as  a  young  man  but  was the most spiritual
occupant of the White House even though he did not belong to
a church.                                                   


 Announcements 

Brandy Station Battlefield Tour

A relatively  small  but  dedicated  group  of  Round  Table
members  participated in the Fall tour of the Brandy Station
battlefield.  It was one of the best tours we  have  had  in
recent  years.  Clark Hall, our guide, said that he would be
interested in providing a more intimate tour  of  the  area,
including  sites  that our bus could not get to.  He and Sam
Craghead are tentatively planning  such  a  tour  for  March
2003.   At that time, the weather should be perfect, and the
lack of leaves on the trees should make it  much  easier  to
see the lay of the land.  Those who missed the Fall tour and
anyone who was with us on October 5  should  keep  track  of
future announcements regarding this new tour at meetings and
in the newsletter.                                          


Annual Christmas Dinner

Reservations for  the  annual  Christmas  dinner  are  being
accepted  until  November 6.  The cost per person is $25.00.
Our speaker, Dr.  Thomas J.  DiLorenzo, will have  with  him
for  sale  copies of his latest book The Real Lincoln: A New
Look at Abraham Lincoln, His Agenda, and an Unnecessary War.

All members are  urged  to  attend  this  Christmas  dinner.
Please  fill out the form below, clip it out, and send it to
Brag Bowling, 3019 Kensington Avenue,  Richmond,  VA  23221.
Make  all  checks  payable  to  the Richmond Civil War Round
Table.  Let any interested friends know  about  the  meeting
and  tell them that they are welcome to attend.  If you have
any questions about the meeting, call Brag at (804) 359-0382
or contact him by e-mail at bragdonb@erols.com.             

____________________________________________________________________________


Richmond Civil War Round Table
Annual Christmas Dinner Reservation Form


Name _______________________________________________________________________

Address ____________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Number of persons attending _____________	Amount of check $___________

____________________________________________________________________________



An Important Reminder!

There will be no meeting at the Boulevard  Methodist  Church
this  month  because  of the Christmas Dinner meeting at the
Willow Oaks Country Club.

Change of the December speaker see:
RCWRT Monthly Speakers for 2002


Newsletter Deadlines

To facilitate the printing and timely  distribution  of  the
monthly  newsletter,  information for it should be submitted

November 22 for December


Richmond Civil War Round Table Newsletter
Art & Carol Bergeron, Editors
3901 Paces Ferry Road
Chester, VA 23831-1239