 Presenting Walter Houston with John McIntyre in The Man Who Taught Lincoln. The DuPont Cavalcade Theater sponsored by the DuPont Company, maker of better things for better living through chemistry. Among the products of the DuPont Company which are known to most everyone are DuPont Duco, DuPont Nylon, DuPont Salafane, Plastics, Paints. Later in this program, we'll bring you the DuPont story of the week about polythene, an interesting new plastic product which you may not know about. Good evening friends, this is Walter Houston. Tonight we honor the greatest champion of national unity our country ever had, Abe Lincoln. Of course we wanted our cavalcade play to tell of Lincoln on this 136th anniversary of his birth. At the same time, we want to tell a story about him that hasn't been completely told before. We think we have found it. It's not the story of the great statesman, the great president. It's the more human story of the young man in the Illinois backwoods who had no polish, who knew no road to follow, who had only a vaulting ambition. It's the story of the red-headed, haired, freckled-faced, country school master, not much older than his pupil, who shared that ambition and guided the first steps down the right road. I'm glad to have my good friend John McIntyre play the role of Abe Lincoln as he has many times before this audience. And for me, there will be a particular pleasure of playing the part of his country school master, Mentor Graham. Presenting the DuPont Cavalcade Theater starring Walter Houston with John McIntyre in The Man Who Taught Lincoln, March 4th, 1861, outside the east portico of the unfinished capital building in Washington, D.C., Carpenters have built a wooden flag-draped platform. And despite the chill late winter wind, a crowd of 10,000 people waits in solemn expectancy. And well up in front, a small elderly white-haired man, struggling to keep his place near the platform, is talking to one of the capital guards. But, uh, but officer, do you think they'll begin soon? Well, I don't see how they can begin before your friend gets here. I suppose I'm too anxious. I came all the way from Illinois, Sangamon County, just to see this ceremony. And that's little enough to do if he's as good a friend as you say. I've been waiting here since early morning. I want to make sure I'd hear everything. Of course, you'd hear better up on the platform. There, there he comes now. Yes, and that's Justice Taney carrying the Bible. Graham? Are you Mr. Graham? Yes, that's my name. Oh, Mr. Lincoln wants you to take a seat on the platform, sir. If you'll come with me. On the platform? You? Excuse me, officer. Well, yes, I, I'd be glad to. I'll come right away. I sat on the platform at Abe Lincoln's first inaugural. I sat toward the back and I don't think many folks notice me, but it was a big day for me. The biggest in my whole life. I guess you wonder how it happened. Well, my name is Manta Graham. My occupation, farmer, carpenter, shoemaker, and a dozen other things. But most important to me, I was a schoolmaster. For years I taught school in New Salem, Illinois. And it was there more than 30 years before that I first met Abe Lincoln. And, you know, almost the minute I met him, I could see, well, let me tell you about it. It was a summer day in 1831. There was no school because it was election day. And I was in Sam Hill's general store, which was the polling place. And I was worried. The man who was supposed to help me clerked the election was sick. And then I saw a tall, awkward, vaguely familiar frame. Mind if I have a gander at these election lists? No, go right ahead. Or for a lot of job-hungry candidates. It's a statewide election. It's important. Yeah, if you read their platform, some of them's mighty promising. They are that. You're Tom Lincoln's boy, aren't you? Yeah, Abe Lincoln's my name. I'm Manta Graham. Oh, Jerry Graham's boy? That's it. Jerry Graham's boy. Well, it's good you know you, Mr. Graham. I was wondering, Abe, can you write? Make a few head-and-corrects. Why? Well, I need someone to help me clerk the election today. Me? Clark the election? Well, there's not much to do. You sit here beside me. And when the people start to come in to cast their vote, you put their name down in the book and have them sign next to their names. That is, if they know how. And then write down how and who they vote for. All are rights to the names? That's all. Well, I can try. Have any voted yet? Not a soul. I just opened a poll. But we'll work hard when they start coming. Yeah! Yeah! Who is there? Jim Hawkins. He's usually first. Yeah! Jim? Long power has votes. He'd make a landslide vote. I'm a rich, snorting son of an eye. Lead me to the polling place. You're in it, Jim. I am? Then why do I vote for my friend, Tiger Dan Simmons? Right here at the table. Abe will take care of you. Abe? Abe Lincoln. What are you doing here? I'm Clark in the election, Jim. No! Settin' at the table like a raggedly justice of the piggies. You're Abe's first. I am? Well, in that case, Abe, put me down for two votes. Two? What first? Well, one for politics and one for friendship. Now, none of that, Jim. You know the law. No! What about the law? It says one voter, one vote. That's the way it is to be. Sounds to me like the law's kind of prejudice. There's no feeling for friendship. The law isn't supposed to have sentiment. That's right, Jim. Law is not supposed to have sentiment. Seems to me it really has a heap of it. Of course, I got no learning like men are here about law, but... What do you mean, Abe? Well, it seems to me that just because every man has one vote, no man has more than one, that's what makes a difference. That's what makes a difference. That's what makes us all free men, as I see it, free and equal. Abe's got it right, Jim. You know something else? No. What? Well, Abe says he hasn't got learning like me, but he's got the thing that really goes before any learning. He's got wisdom. Right from the first, I could see it in Abe. This backwoods boy, I could see the wisdom. And with it, I could see the questions and the hungry. After we closed the polls that night, I asked him to come home for supper to meet my wife, Sarah, and my two little daughters. The family took to Abe right away, like I had. And after supper, the girls climbed up on his lap, and he told them stories and sang songs with them. Oh, Dan Tuck was a fine old man. He washed his face in the frying pan. He combed his hair with the wagon wheel. And dyed with a toothache in his ear. All right, Abe. The children haven't enjoyed themselves so far. I don't know how long. Well, I thank you, Ms. Grail. Well, it seems to me it's time they went to bed, Sarah. Oh, no. Oh, what time? Murphy, it's your bedtime. Come along now. All right, Mother. Yes, Mother. Aunt Abe, good night, girls. Good night, Abe. Good night, Minerva. Good night, Abe. Good night, Elmar. Come, girls. Be quick. Well, Abe, yes, Minner. What were you thinking? I was just thinking those are likely little girls. They're lucky to be living right here with a teacher like you. How's that? With all these books you got, you could talk to them. Learning will come easy for them. Hmm. Maybe, uh, uh, how did you like clicking today? Well, it's good work. Makes you feel responsible. Yes, yes, it does. It's the kind of work you ought to be doing one way or another. My record won't have much time for much of it. Oh, you have plans? Oh, just a piece of floating driftwood, I reckon. But still, I gotta earn my living. That's true. But, uh, do you mean to stay on here and use Salem? For Spell, anyway. He's getting off. It's open in the store. He wants me to work for him. Why? Well, I was thinking, I'd like you to drop in at my school, Abe, any time you've a mind to. Oh. Well, I don't know a matter. Why not? Well, I kind of outgrew my school days, seems to me. It's a little late for me to be coming to school. You know the proverb, Abe. It's never too late to learn. Yeah, I hear it, yeah. There is a heap of subjects in this world that pleasure me to learn. Well? But while I just can't see myself being a schoolboy, man, there is one thing. That's Abe. I've just been itching to look at your books ever since I come in. Do you think I might, might borrow some? Good. That's very good class. And now to be refreshed with songs, we'll study our lessons. Mr. Graham. Yes, Dennis? Yeah, I'm studying with Robert, sir. He knows us better than I do. What are you studying? A thing of beauty is a joy forever. It's loving us increases. Oh, yes. Let Robert listen to you. Thank you, sir. So does he does. We do. Rosie, I'd like you to work on your songs first. Then the birds. Yes, Mr. Graham. Come in, Abe. Come in. Thinking about what you said about me coming to school, I'm glad to hear it. I just might give it a try. Rosie? Yes, Mr. Graham? Did you hear anything funny? Why are you laughing? What? Why are we just laughing today, Blinken, sir? Yes. Then you start in school. Well, he's bigger than you are. That's true, Rosie. There's one thing all of you forget. It doesn't matter how big you are when you start school, but it does matter how much you learn when you get there. Sit down, Abe. I'm not benched there with the advanced learners. But, sir, I don't reckon that. I know you've got the capacity to learn, Abe. You'll catch up with him soon enough. I can take this room from you. It's handy, a room. Sit down there. Next to Ann Rutley. Abe had the capacity to learn. The hunger to learn. Day by day, I could see his mind leaping ahead, looking for answers to his questions. He made me proud of him. Then one evening, I found him waiting for me at the closing school. Well, hello, Abe. I thought you'd gone home long ago. I was waiting for you, matter. Oh? What's on your mind? Well, I've been thinking, matter. I believe I can go it alone now. How's that, Abe? I mean, I reckon I don't need to be coming to school anymore. I can read, write, cipher, pretty fair. That's true, matter the most. Well, so, I thought I'd just tell you. Thank you. I see. Abe, if you knew a man who was given a strong box full of money and then he was given the keys of the box, what would you tell him to do? What would I tell him? That's right. Or tell him to open up the box money no good if it's locked up. And learning is no good locked up either. What do you mean, matter? You know how to read and write and cipher. And those are the keys to learning. And with those keys, you can unlock all the rest to become anything you want to. You want to make something of yourself, don't you? What a kid. And think about what I've told you about the strong box. I am. I am thinking. Well, Abe, I'll see you Monday morning, then. Listening to Walter Houston with John McIntyre in The Man Who Taught Lincoln on the Cavalcade Theater sponsored by the DuPont Company of Wilmington, Delaware, maker of better things for better living through chemistry. So we begin Act Two of The Man Who Taught Lincoln starring Walter Houston as Meta Graham and John McIntyre as Abe Lincoln. Abe came to school regularly for three or four weeks. Then he had to go to work again. But he didn't let his education stop. He kept borrowing books from me. He told me the things I want to know are in books and my best friend is the man who will get me a book I ain't read. After work, Abe and I would meet and I'd hear him recite lessons or I'd do my best to answer his questions. And one evening, I came home with news for my wife. Is that you, Mentor? Yes, Sara. Sorry, I'm late. You missed your supper? I know. I've been taking care of some things. Sara, how would you like a border? Why is that a practical idea? We could use the money. Oh, not a paying border, Sara. Some would do the chores. Why? Who are you thinking of, Mentor? I was thinking about young Abe Lincoln. Oh. Don't you like the idea? As a matter of fact, I do, but why pretend about it? You're bringing him here to teach him, aren't you? Well, as a matter of fact... And he's out on the porch right now, isn't he? Well, yes, Sara. Well, call him in, Mentor. All right, Sara. Don't leave him out there to breathe. Abe, come in, Abe. Seems you're expected. Now that you're living here, we can really get to work. Plan your studies. Do you know yet what you want to do? Well, it sounds like a lot, I know, but I'd like some kind of public life, Mentor, this big country, growing fast. It'll likely have lots of grown pains during my lifetime. I'd like to be where things happen. Yes, and you will, Abe. I got a notion that I ought to study about speaking my speech is too rough. Too rough? I've been thinking, words are about the most important thing there is. You can have good ideas, but if you don't express them right, they don't do nothing to forward the word. Give me, I'm wrong, Mentor. No, no, you're right. Words are the power, the real power of knowledge. Now, where's that book? Start right now, Abe. What book's that? It's Kirkham. It's the only one in Sangamon County. You're going to study grammar. What is a noun? Noun is the name of any person, place, or thing. Great. Greater. Greatest. Frugal. More frugal. Most frugal. Not ain't, but are not. Not Clark, but... Kirk. What is the foundation of all good writing? Good sense is the foundation of all good writing. One who understands a subject well will scarcely write ill upon it. And... You calling us, Mentor? Yes, I was about to leave the party, Abe, but I wanted to have one more look at that cordon silk hair of Abe. Well, here I am, Mr. Graham. I want to talk to both of you. Will you come outside a minute? We will, Mentor. Sorry, you're leaving so early. It's the best fourth of July party I can remember. I've seen more than you, that Abe. Sarah's tired. I promise to get her home. What did you want to talk about, Mr. Graham? Well, there are one or two things about Abe's study. You're going to keep on, aren't you, Abe? Yeah, I guess I am. Well, I got a new book. It's much more advanced than the one we've been using, much more advanced. I'll study it with you if you think I should. I really do, Abe. Of course there is one hitch. What's that? I have one other advanced grammar student, and since there's only one book, I'll have to tutor both of you at the same time. Is that all right? Well, yes, it is. Yes. And it's all right with you, Anne. Yes, sir. I mean, I think it will be more sociable. Anne's the other student? Yes. I'm tutoring to go to the academy in Jacksonville, Abe. Yeah, it's too bad I can't have a separate book for each of you, but... Oh, I don't know a minute. Sometimes one book's better than two. It brings two minds closer together. You mean two heads, don't you, Abe? Abe Lincoln and Anne were engaged, so Abe was even more anxious to make a living. He ran for the legislature and lost, but he kept on working and studying. I taught him what I knew about surveying, and he got a job as a deputy surveyor. Then he ran for the legislature again, and this time he was elected. Yes, he was moving on. He was already ahead of his teacher, except in one great lesson, the bitter lesson he had to learn alone. It happened one sultry August afternoon in 1935. Abe had stopped by and was sitting with Sarah and me on the front porch, and we could see that he was worried. It's the drought that's doing it, I'm sure. It's doing what, Abe? Bringing all the fever. So many sick. But only rain. Yes, we've lost some of our friends, too, but the plague seems to be coming to an end. Hasn't rain, corn, parched everywhere I see. Everything's stunted. Dying. Abe, you look drawn. Are you sick? No, Miss Graham. Not that way, but it's Anne. I heard she was much better. Well, she's no better. How can you tell, Abe? They sent for me yesterday. Mr. Rutledge did. I went and sat beside her. She was burning up with the fever. And today? I haven't gone. I started, but I couldn't go. Couldn't bear to go. Why not, Abe? Because yesterday when Mr. Rutledge sent for me, it was because Anne was calling for me. Yes. When I got there, she didn't know me. Sat with her. Kept calling for me. Calling for me. I was right there. I buried Anne in Concord seven miles away. And for weeks afterward, no one could talk to Abe. Sometimes he was found lying with one arm thrown across her grave. Or in the stormy weather, he was seen walking, walking with the rain running on his gone face. Then one day, about two months after Anne's death, I met Abe coming toward our house. And I walked along with him. Just coming to talk to you, man. Yes, I... I wondered when you'd get around to it. I've been doing love thinking. Yes. I knew you were thinking, Abe. You see, first man after Anne died, I thought there was nothing left to live for. But you know now that there is. Not exactly. It's hard to think of life without Anne. Very hard. But I kept remembering some of the things you told me about knowledge. About learning. What were they, Abe? Well, one time you showed me what someone said about learning. That it could be gotten by reading books. But that knowledge of the world could be gotten only by reading men and all the various editions of them. Yes, that's right. Well, I thought maybe I had to love Anne to know about the love of other people. Maybe, Abe. And maybe I had to lose her to know how men can suffer. Do you really think that, Abe? I'm not sure, Menor. I only know that now I do understand about suffering. I can see that. And that now I'm going to spend my life to end whatever needless suffering and misery I find. Abe, you see, there is a law. I always knew you had a great capacity. And now I knew it wasn't given to you to be wasted. It wasn't wasted. And so on March 4th, 1861, I met a Graham, an obscure aging country schoolmaster, sat on the platform in Washington, D.C., and saw a great man who was a friend of mine take the oath for President of the United States. I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. Mentor, Mentor Graham, you came all the way to Washington. Yes. I came to see the ceremony, Abe. You came here just to see me inaugurated. Well, in a way, you're my life work, Abe. The life work of a teacher. Mr. U. Walter Houston and the John McIntyre and all other members of tonight's DuPont Cavalcade Theatre cast. She is when we celebrate the birthdays of two great Americans. Tonight on Cavalcade, we've celebrated the memory of Lincoln. Next week, we will bring you a tense and little-known story of George Washington. A story of 24 hours when the fate of the young American Revolution hung in the balance and treason ticked like a bomb, ready to explode in General Washington's face. And as our star next week, we will welcome to the DuPont Cavalcade Theatre that fine actor of stage and screen, Herbert Marshall, to star in Washington and the Traitor. Walter Houston may soon be seen in Rene Claire's production Ten Little Indians. The music on tonight's Cavalcade was composed and conducted by Robert Armbruster. This evening's Cavalcade play was written by Bernard Rimes, who's based upon the recently published biography, Menter Graham, by Conaghan Duncan and D.F. Nichols. This is Gain Whitman inviting you to tune in next Monday to Washington and the Traitor, starring Herbert Marshall on the DuPont Cavalcade Theatre. Brought to you by E.I. DuPont in the Morrison Company of Wilmington, Delaware.