Event Details
Humor, Leadership, and the Civil War
Presented by: Sameer Somal
Moderated by: Thomas Leggett
At the darkest hour of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln still found reason to try to cause others to laugh. His humor was more than amusement—it helped him endure extraordinary pressure, disarm opponents, connect with people, and communicate difficult truths. In this lively presentation, Sameer Somal explores Lincoln’s wit, storytelling, and remarkable ability to use humor as a tool of leadership during the nation’s greatest crisis.
Bios:
Sameer Somal is an entrepreneur, expert witness, and Abraham Lincoln historian who writes and speaks regularly on Lincoln’s life, leadership, law career, and humor. He serves on the Board of the Abraham Lincoln Association, is active with the Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia and the Abraham Lincoln Long Nine Museum, and is the founder of Abraham Lincoln Scholars. Most recently, Somal co-founded The Abraham Lincoln Collection: Somal & Cicchetti Dedicated to American History, a private artifact collection furthering his work to proliferate the legacy of Mr. Lincoln.
Thomas Leggett is an award-winning journalist, writer, editor, and independent Abraham Lincoln scholar. A member of the Abraham Lincoln Association and Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia, he researches and writes extensively on Lincoln’s legal career, leadership, technology, and the communications revolution of the nineteenth century. His research and editorial work have contributed to scholarship published by the ABA Journal, Enterprising Investor, Wisconsin Lawyer, and other professional publications.