 Dr. Kyrsten in Remember Day, a story of a famous answer by Abraham Lincoln on the capital state of America sponsored by the DuPont Company, to make her a better thing for better living through chemistry. First, here is Gaines-Metham. Today it's especially smart to take good care of your clothes. One way you can do that is by having them cleaned regularly. This is another way that DuPont Chemistry stands ready to help you. Choose a dry cleaner who uses DuPont fluid per clean and tri-clean because these fluids are especially compounded for expert cleaning. Your clothes will be cleaner because they are thorough. More pleasant to wear because DuPont fluids leave no odor. Because DuPont fluids don't leave any oily film to catch dust or dirt. Make sure your dry cleaner uses DuPont cleaning fluids. They are among DuPont's better things for better living through chemistry. The company presents Remember Day, starring Walter Pigeon as Abraham Lincoln on the cavalcade of America. For two days now hundreds of strangers have been coming into a Pennsylvania town. Much of the coming and going centers around the Great House on the square. Now it is Wednesday November 18th. The last of many messengers has come and gone. The house stands expected for the afternoon sun, but along the street on which the house stands, many of the strangers keep passing. Is there something? No, just a reporter for the New York Herald. Oh, well this is the house all right. This is where he's going to stay the night. Judge Wilson. But I hadn't finished my question. David Wilson is my friend. We go to school together. Well, you give a great deal of information. There's some more, too. A captain's stand there is a stranger. Confederate captain here, too. He wounded me, can't see. Well, you don't say. Elizabeth takes care of me. Elizabeth is taking real good care of me. She likes him a lot. And would that be Elizabeth playing the piano? Sure. But I'm not allowed to talk to strangers. Goodbye, mister. But there's much I've been wanting to say. Well, I'm a guest in this house. But you're so well-convinced again now. I know. You took me out of that hospital tent, brought me here when the weather began turning cold. And that was kind. We didn't single you out because of pity. All the men removed out of the hospital tent and how it was here in town. You're a man as well as I was. But we are more than strength is here. Enemies. Has anyone made you feel that? Most forgotten. Until today? Because he is coming to this house? Yes. Before the sun goes down he'll be here. But Daniel, please try to understand. You're so eager about his coming that it grows in your voice. But I'm not. And I don't want to pretend. I understand. And that somehow it's so right. To me so very right. That both of you should be in this house. Why? Tell me why. It's just a feeling I have. Or I wish I could explain to you, share it with you. But I can't. The sunshine, the wind drops. Tomorrow will be fair. It feels warm as the flames in the summer. This is to be a day I shall long remember. Shortly before noon of this day, Wednesday the 18th of November, a special four-car train marked with flags and bunting leaves Washington, D.C. and heads north and east. On board are newspaper men, three cabinet ministers, ministers and other shares of foreign governments, two presidential secretaries, and the one man for whom the train is being run. And approaches its next stop after Baltimore, a group of men in a forward car stiff-telling stories. Very good. Very good indeed. Had you heard that one, Mr. President? Well, never this. Reminds me of our friend General Fry. All morning he kept threatening and worrying that I'd missed the train. Made me feel like that fellow back in Illinois who was going to be hung. As he came down the road on the way to the gallows, the crowd kept pushing and blocking his passage. Finally the poor man called out, Boys, you needn't be in such a hurry to get ahead. There won't be any fun life yet there. Well, gentlemen, this is all very pleasant, but I must go to my car. No, no, no, no, no, please keep your seat now. Can I do anything, sir? No, don't think so, Mr. Nicolay. The people will expect me to say something tomorrow, and I must give the matter some thought. If I should need you, Mr. Nicolay, I'll call. Yes, sir. He? Yes. Despite his good humor, he's worried. Chick-a-monger crushed his hope for a near end to the war. That's right, Mr. Seward. Until the last minute he debated about leaving Washington, even for a day, that's a very sick boy. Doctors have time to be cheerful about it. The shock of Woody's death last year is true with him. One son gone, dad is now his whole life. Stanton plumbers to telegraph any news. The speech for tomorrow, has he finished? No, half a bit, but got nothing beyond the few lines he set down at the White House. The professor's been living through every minute. There's something he sees. I've watched it. He has listened to it, but always. It is as if he's listening and looking for something beyond the man speaking and the room in which he speaks. As if he's trying to make out a voice, a sigh, a word. What is he looking for? Oh, Lord, stronger than iron has failed. Undoubtedly many sharp noses will smell this out as a deep fit of politics, huh? How about so it? He's the stay with the family called Harper. He'll be close by us. The other, they're all provided for, too. In accordance with each man's view of his position, I trust him, let us hope for the best, and the beyond for the worst. Lovely country we're mapping through. Yes, and to themselves before me, doing likewise on the Repedat. But it's strange how being on this train. No secret that Congressman Stevens is the big power in the party that proves that you are making the speech tomorrow. I'm afraid that's sold when he heard I was going to the dedication and that Statham and Chase were staying in Washington. He said it was the way it should be. Let the dead go, bury the dead. Stevens is no fool. He may be right. Late that November afternoon, the train pulled into the Pennsylvania town. Now the sun has gone out. The town is silent. Within an hour or so, the town's people and strangers and terminating bands were plowed into the streets and laying in the town square. But now is the time for something. In the east, the moon hangs low and full, blood red. Well, you sit here, Mr. President. Thank you, ma'am. Mother, why is the captain over here? Now, Daisy, if you promise to let you come to the table. Yes, Mother. I'm sorry. Mr. President, would you do us the honor? Thank you. The honor is mine, Judge Will. For the bounty of right fields and flocks and the bounty that we are about to receive. For this shelter in friendship is warm, meaning no offense. You folks may call this supper, but I feel like I've eaten my way through a full course meal. And you, Mr. Nicolet, the president just spoke to me too, sir. Mother, I have another piece of pumpkin pie full of baby care I ever feel you. Sonny, this is prime pumpkin pie. Maybe you'll all ever share another piece. Wish you'd come here more often. Now, that's right kind of you, son. I have a boy of my own about your age. What's his name? We call him Tad. Does he have a pony? Yes, he has. Mr. President, I'm afraid there'll be quite a bit of parade and tarrionaden tonight. I trust he won't be too deep-diving. Ah, not a bit, Judge. But I wish there was a better reason for the drumming and shouting. And you're very right, this pony. Just fine. But right now, Tad's a very sick boy. I'm sorry to hear about that. We are all sorry, Daisy. And we all hope that Tad will soon be well again. You're very kind, ma'am. Mr. President, I wonder if you've ever noticed something. Again, your husband must have fallen. Well, please excuse me. I've got to go up and see him. Elizabeth, my old man. He'll see you, father. He was wounded in the fighting here? On Cemetery Hill. He had to get a case of fever shot through the shoulder and it's blinded by a blow on the head. I first saw him in a tenured hospital out here along New York Tenpies. Well, sure, he's not one of our men. Ah, yes, your father has told me. I've read to him no letters for him. When a code said him, he brought him here. First all the homes in town, taking the wounded, spares marriage life. Thank God the people of this country are not completely lost in amethyst hatred. Well, will your young man see again? Well, yes, sir, in time. Little by little is shot wearing off, right? But? A Greek citizen. I wanted him to come down to supper to be wounded. I'm sorry, Mr. President. I understand. I guess I'm the living symbol of the thing he enlisted to fight. It was so when he first came here. The bitterness was toward you. And now? But the bitterness is not so sharp against any person, a person. But it's turning more and more against the war. Then you've done much for it. As much as I could, but now he wants to go back to his home. I would go with him, but... But what, Mr. Elizabeth? He'd never ask. I'll write a safe contact pass for him through our line. Oh, thank you, Mr. President. May I tell him? Mr. Elizabeth, I'd hold it a great kindness that you could bring that young man to me. I'd like to speak to him. Try, Mr. President. And please say nothing to him about the past. No. In any case, I'll leave it for him before I go back to Washington. If you'll come, when may I leave? Well, I have some work to do. Let's say, uh, an hour from now. Nine o'clock. Coming to Walter Pigeon as Abraham Lincoln in Remember Day on the Cavalcade of America, sponsored by the DuPont Company. Make her a better thing for better living through chemistry. The second part of our story opens. President Lincoln is working on a draft of the speech he used to make the next day, as someone knocks at the door of his room. Come in. News, Mr. Nicolay. A telegram from Mr. Stanton. Any news about Grant? He's starting battle at Chattanooga. For inside, still seems safe at Knoxville. When was the message sent? Uh, just about an hour ago. Eight o'clock. Does he say anything about Ted? Here it is, sir. On inquiry, the doctor informs me that your son is better this evening. Thank you, Mr. Nicolay. Will you be coming down, sir? I've still some writing to do. Where are you off to? Well, I thought I'd join Hay and the others for a bit. Serenade's beginning. So I hear. Good night, Mr. Nicolay. And establish, now, the work of our hands upon us. The work of our hands. Mr. President, this is Captain Daniel Carter. Captain Carter, I'm glad to see you. Thank you, sir. Come, take chairs, both of you. Oh, here, Daniel. You sit here. Captain, I'm sure grateful to you for coming to see me. Is there something you want to talk about, sir? Oh, much. I shall oppose upon you. I'm not quite the bad man hot from the pit. Sixth North Carolina, Sir, Hokesburg Gate, Ellis Division. Old Jubil early, eh? First great general. But nothing like Jackson, sir. He was our best. He was one of our country's best. His death was probably great news to you. Great news? No, Captain. I didn't come here to have anyone mock me. Oh, Daniel, please. Wait. Captain, you think I mocked you? Why? Well, sir, Captain, we are both deeply troubled men. But there would be no gain for either of us in mockery or bitterness or in a false joy at the time the death of a man, any man who was an American, whether the color of his uniform was blue or gray. What do you say, Captain? I don't know, sir. All I know is that when they brought me in from the field, I lay in darkness for three months. And in those three months, I did a lot of thinking, sir. I thought about the men in my company, my friends. Yes, and I thought about the Yankees, too. You buried out there with the men I knew. And did you reach a conclusion, Captain? No. All I could think of was, why? What for? I've walked in darkness for three years, searching an answer to those same questions. Why, what for? And I was not lacking for answers. Men came to me from every state, from foreign countries. They brought me advice and answers. I was like that fellow on the frontier who was lost one night in the most wild place. A terrific thunderstorm came up. A lightning gave him the only clue to his way out, but the thunder was frightful. One bolt which seemed to crash the earth right beneath him brought him to his knees. By no means a praying man, his petition was shortened to the point. Oh, Lord, if it's all the same to you, give us a little more life and a little less noise. And, Captain, I'm still seeking more life. Sir, I have no life to give, but there must be certain things in this world that are right for every man, and certain things that are dead wrong. There must be. Yes, Captain, that I can answer. Greed, intolerance, hatred, those are great wrongs. No matter the outcome of this war, if this country is to exist, if the world is to exist, then understanding and tolerance and brotherhood must become and remain a great right. Those are words, sir. Fine words. And I believe them. And will you dare to speak in tomorrow? But, Daniel, please. Will you dare to speak in tomorrow? Did those will be expecting glory and all the fine things that come with it? I have it in my mind, too. To whom will you speak? To all who would listen. There'll be many who will refuse. There'll be thousands on that field who would listen if they could. But they're dead. Yours and ours. And they won't be here no matter what you say. I know, Captain. I know. Sir, I don't know how you're going to say it tomorrow. But those who are livin', make them understand and see. Make them understand so that these Americans won't have died in vain. Captain Carter, for the best poor words I can muster, I will speak to all who will listen. David, did you see Captain Carter? I sure. Or did he come with a dedication after all? Sure. He's over on that mount, see? Oh, yes, I should wait here, David. But, Liz, he said he didn't want anybody around him. Liz! It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us. That from these honored dead, we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of it. That we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. Elizabeth, Captain Carter, it's right time of you to come to say goodbye. Sir, I heard your speech this afternoon. I'm sorry to find the words, Captain. They were right for me, and they were right for the men who fell there. Thank you, Captain. My soldier and days are over. I mean the kind of soldier that made me this way. But I'm enlisting again, sir. Enlisting? Yes, sir. Those words you spoke, there are banner for all of us, whether northern or southern, for the years when this war is over. And I'm joining under that banner, sir, and serving for a life spell. Thank you, Captain. I'm afraid it's a poor small force that you're joining. But it will grow into a great army one day, sir. And I want to go home to recruit for it. I see. Has Mr. Nicolet given you the part? He has. And I'm deeply grateful to you, sir. But I'd like to ask one more favor, Mr. President. Could you see your way clear to write just three words on that pass? Go on, Captain. Well, sir, just after you say Captain Carter, would you add, and Mrs. Carter? Yes, I could do that, Captain. Does he speak for you, Mr. Elizabeth? Oh, yes, Mr. President. I shall never forget this day. Child, sending you two off is the only thing today that has made me forget my conditions or given me any pleasure. Dive when I may. I want it said of me by those who knew me best. That I plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow. Okay, microphone in a moment. Now here is Gaines Whitman. According to the National Safety Council, 355,000 deaths from accidents in the scant four years between Pearl Harbor and DJ Day. 100,000 more deaths here at home than there were on the battlefields. It's hard to believe, isn't it? But it's true. Carelessness is a worse destroyer than the most destructive war in our history. And where do these accidents happen? The most dangerous place is your own home. 16 million persons were injured at home during the war years. How? That's a worthwhile question. Or if you know how accidents occur in the home, you can take precautions against them. And the answer is largely from fires and from falls. Injuries from fire, reported daily in the newspapers, are caused by such things as children playing with matches, starting a furnace with kerosene or gasoline, forgetting to adjust the screen around the fireplace, smoking, using worn-out electrical cords and plugs. How do people injure themselves in falls? By slipping in a bathtub, or on a wet bathroom floor, or by slipping on icy walks and porch steps, by skidding on a rug, especially a rug at the head of the stairs. In this connection, the DuPont Company for many years has manufactured rug anchor, rug underlay, and it's back on the market. A synthetic sponge rubber, non-skid underlay, which fits under a rug or carpet and prevents just this type of fall that is so common and so dangerous. Not only are accidents in the home increasing, but traffic accidents are at an all-time high in spite of the fact that fewer cars are on the road. The tragedy is that almost all of these so-called accidents are unnecessary. All we need to do is use a little care. In this, it proves it daily. In its safety record, the DuPont Company is a leader among American industrial companies, and we find in our experience that carefulness prevents fires and safeguards against personal injuries. Be careful, and you'll be safe. That simple rule can be as effective in your own home as it is in the safe plant in which DuPont men and women make the DuPont Company's better things for better living through chemistry. Now here's our star, Walter Pitchin. It was a great pleasure having you with us tonight, Walter. Doubly so, because of your splendid performance. I explained the pleasure with mine. History has always interested me, but I don't remember ever having known what the inspiration was for Lincoln's magnificent Gettysburg Address. John Sox's and Lightning's story was new to me, and I'd like to learn new things. In that case, Walter, you'll be interested in next week's Cavalcade story. Well, it's a story based on a little-known incident in the life of another of our great friends. Oh, yes, a very good friend of mine was telling me about it, fellow with the name of Gregory Peck, who I believe used to star in the story, correct? He played a title role in Young Major Washington. Incidentally, have you ever worked with Gregory Peck? No, not yet. You need to say he hasn't been weekend at the Waldorf? No, he isn't going. Although the picture is full of stars, including you, Mr. Pitchin. Yes, I managed to squeeze into Waldorf for a weekend together with, I'm sorry, Walter, but we have just so much time on the air, and what better we have left would allow for a full roll call of stars in weekend at the Waldorf. Well, I have time to say good night. Very well. Good night. It is Boy Scouts Week. While statesmen of the world work for a permanent peace, the Boy Scouts make their own contributions to understanding among all peoples. Without any fanfare, our American Scouts through their World Friendship Fund are helping their comrades in war-devastated countries. We feel that the Boy Scouts and their themes, Scouts of the World, building together. Music for tonight's DuPont Cavalcade The Cavalcade play was written by John Sox and Melton Wayne. In tonight's cast with Mr. Pitchin were Sammy Hill, Alan Hewitt, Jane Avello, Georgia Bacchus, Drift Barnett, Henry Blair, Tommy Bernard, and David Ellis. This is Tom Collins inviting you to listen next week to Gregory Peck in Young Major Washington on the Cavalcade of America brought to you by the DuPont Company of Wilmington, Delaware. This is NBC, the national broadcasting company.