Looking for Lincoln
(DVD) 

Tracking Abraham Lincoln's life, this lively and thoughtful program interweaves exceptional archival stills, footage, and animation with visits to such diverse locales as the Library of Congress, Lincoln's early home, and a collection of Lincoln memorabilia. Host Henry Louis Gates Jr. reveals the multifaceted man behind the enduring icon. Conversations with notable Lincoln scholars and experts, including Doris Kearns Goodwin, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and others, illustrate the range of perceptions and controversy associated with Lincoln. Presented as a personal search, the program intermittently captures Gates reading source materials, reflecting, and digesting information in an effort to reconcile his cherished childhood vision of the Great Emancipator against facts that point to Lincoln's disregard for civil liberties. This illuminating documentary probes broader issues of memory, biography, and the malleability of history, presenting a compelling look at a complex and contradictory man who had the strength and capacity to grow and adjust his thinking. Copyright 2019 Booklist Reviews.