Lincoln/Davis set to debate at SCC today

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Jim Sayre, left, and Cliff Howard

November 13, 2008

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Anonymous The Commonwealth Journal Thu Nov 13, 2008, 08:11 AM EST

Somerset Community College will be hosting a debate between Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis today (Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008) at 3:30 p.m. in the Stoner Little Theatre, located on the SCC Somerset Campus North.

The event is free and open to the public.

President of the United States Abraham Lincoln will be portrayed by Jim Sayre, while President of the Confederacy Jefferson Davis will be portrayed by Cliff Howard.

The men will debate the issues of their day. This event is the latest in the SCC series celebrating the Lincoln Bicentennial.

“We were very fortunate to receive a grant from the Kentucky Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial to sponsor programs such as this at the college,” said Cindy Thrasher, an SCC instructor in Communications and Political Science, who arranged for the performance.

Cliff Howard of Frankfort will play Davis for the SCC performance.

Howard, tall and trim at 77, is busy these days fulfilling requests for appearances as the Kentucky-born Lincoln. Dressed in the stovepipe hat and black suit Lincoln favored, and with his gray beard died black, Howard bears a striking resemblance to the great emancipator. He finds himself occupied with requests for appearances at schools and colleges, museums, historic homes, church and civic groups, receptions, parties and sundry other special occasions.

Howard’s wife, Joan, interprets Lincoln’s Kentucky-born wife, Mary Todd. She designs and sews her own costumes for her interpretations of Lincoln’s controversial and sometimes misrepresented wife.

Since first taking on the role of Honest Abe as a Scoutmaster in 1985, Cliff Howard has become so interested in Civil War-era history that he now interprets Confederate President Jefferson Davis as well. Howard frequently appears as Davis in a mock debate about the causes of the war with Lincoln presenter Jim Sayre of Lawrenceburg, Ky. Joan presents Davis’ wife, Varina Howell Davis.

“I realized no one was impersonating Davis, so I started doing him,” Howard said. He does over 30 re-enactments per year along with his wife.

It’s ironic that Kentucky – a state that declared its neutrality as the Civil War began – was the birthplace of Lincoln and Davis.

Sayre and Howard are good friends who enjoy speculating about what could have happened if Lincoln and Davis had been given the chance to debate.

Jim Sayre started impersonating Abraham Lincoln “purely by accident.”

“When I served in the military, I had to shave every day. When I got out I quit,” Sayre said. “It was the ’70s.”

As his beard grew, people began to tell him he looked like the 16th president.

“A friend convinced me to enter a look-alike contest in 1983 – I came in third,” Sayre said.

After the contest, he started getting calls to appear in parades and school programs. He now averages about 10 re-enactments per year, but most of his speaking is done in public schools.

Sayre’s wife, Mary, portrays Mary Todd Lincoln. He believes history has been unkind to Lincoln’s wife, who was known as bossy and belligerent.

Sayre admires Lincoln because “he had high morals ... he stuck by what he believed.” He gave the Emancipation Proclamation as an example.

“It was unacceptable to most, even to some in the North, but he had the courage to present it,” Sayre said.

Interpreting Lincoln’s mannerisms comes easy to Sayre, but it requires constant study.

“I have quite a library of early American history” for reference, he said.

“Each side in the Civil War had valid opinions,” Sayre said. “It’s so sad so many had to die before they realized we’re all Americans.”

Several years ago the Howards wrote a script for a mock debate between Lincoln and Davis.

“They never debated ... we wondered what a debate between the two would have been like,” Howard said.

He gleaned information from speeches given by Lincoln and Davis, and well as “problems of the time,” he said.

Howard hopes his portrayal will help people see Davis “in a different light.”

“I want people to see that he wasn’t a traitor or a criminal,” he said.

“Davis’ father and Lincoln’s grandfather fought in the Revolutionary War, which was a secession,” Howard said. “But because Davis was involved in the Civil War, people see him as a secessionist and a traitor.”

“Davis had things to say that I think would be helpful in this day and age,” Howard said. One example he gave was when Davis was being held in Virginia on charges of treason. Davis refused to take communion until he was able to forgive those who’d imprisoned him.

Howard gives his interpretation of Davis, hoping audiences will understand “we never want to fight a Civil War again.”

Sayre said the debate is usually received “quite well,” and the response “varies totally.”

Sayre and Howard enjoy practicing the mock debate. But when they talk about history, are they as congenial?

“We have friendly discussions, but he knows he will lose,” Sayre said, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Kentucky will kickoff the bicentennial at the Abraham Lincoln National Historic Site near Hodgenville on Feb. 12, 2009.

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