Monday, February 16, 2026, marks Presidents Day — a time to honor the Americans who have served as president and to reflect on the leadership that has shaped our nation. While the holiday began in 1879 to commemorate George Washington’s birthday, it has become a broader opportunity to consider the legacy of all our presidents. This year, I find myself thinking about the namesake of Nebraska’s capital city and one of my personal favorite presidents: Abraham Lincoln.
Lincoln led our nation through its darkest hour. As the Civil War tore our country apart, he preserved the Union and laid the foundation for the abolition of slavery. His steady leadership and moral clarity helped redefine the promise of America at a moment when that promise seemed in danger of being lost.
Nowhere is that clearer than in the Gettysburg Address. Delivered at one of the bloodiest battlefields of the war, Lincoln’s 272-word speech remains among the most powerful ever written. In it, he called for “a new birth of freedom” and reaffirmed that a government “of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” He reshaped how Americans understood both the war and their national purpose.
In his second inaugural address, spoken as the war neared its end, Lincoln struck a tone of humility and reconciliation. He urged Americans to act “with malice toward none; with charity for all,” calling on a fractured nation to move forward together. It was a remarkable appeal for unity at a moment when bitterness would have been easy.
All of this came amid deep personal hardship. Throughout his life, Lincoln endured the unimaginable loss of three of his four children to illness. Despite profound grief, he continued to shoulder the weight of leading a divided nation.
The Lincoln White House was truly the people’s house. He welcomed everyday citizens during open walk-in hours, listening to their concerns and petitions. This reflected his belief that leadership must remain grounded in the lives and voices of the people – a belief I strive to emulate as I serve Nebraskans in the U.S. Senate.
Though Lincoln never visited Nebraska, his legacy is deeply woven into our state’s history. On December 2, 1863, he designated Omaha as the eastern terminus of the Union Pacific Railroad — a decision that helped secure the city’s future growth. Four years later, when Nebraska achieved statehood, the town of Lancaster was renamed Lincoln in honor of the fallen president.
In Washington, D.C., Lincoln’s summer cottage still stands, where he sought refuge from the heat and pressures of wartime leadership. Today, preserved as President Lincoln’s Cottage at the Soldiers’ Home National Monument, it offers visitors a rare glimpse into his private life and presidency — and is well worth a visit.
On this Presidents Day, we reflect on leadership, sacrifice, and national purpose. Abraham Lincoln’s life and words remain a powerful reminder of what steady courage, humility, and faith in democracy can achieve. Let us all strive to live out his values and keep his legacy alive.
Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week.