Abraham was not close to one of the best presidents. If you think he was, then you need to study up on your history a bit more. You are just listening to the government.

Right after the civil war ended, new inventions would make it cost more to keep slaves than own and take care of them. Slavery would become something that broke down to the point that history would follow to this path. Lincoln just did something a few years quicker.

He made some good speaches, but JFK>Lincoln anyday.