This research paper examines the relationships among President Lincoln and two of the most influencial newspaper editors during the American Civil War. The emotional, verbose Horace Greeley, who became friends with Lincoln, and the more distant James Gordon Bennett, who dealt mostly through indirect contact with the President, grew to respect the abilities of President Lincoln. They supported him when he really needed it, although the support was somewhat irregular, and Greeley was inconsistent. Both newspapers, Greeley's Tribune and Bennett's Herald, expressed viewpoints that sparked action.
Greeley supplied the President with plenty of advice, which Lincoln had to consider carefully without offending Greeley. Some historians credit Greeley's editorials, especially the "Prayor of Twenty Million," with bringing about the Emancipation Proclamation. Lincoln convinced Bennett to soften his pro-Southern stance and to support the Union.
Lincoln was well aware of the power of the pens of Greeley and Bennett and was grateful for their support. In their editorials upon Lincoln’s death, the editors reflected that they wished perhaps they had aided him more. Both editor-publishers realized the greatness of the man after he was gone and regretted Lincoln would not be around to guide the nation through Reconstruction.
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