TL;DR

A recently donated handwritten letter by President Abraham Lincoln, written just weeks after his inauguration in 1861, sheds light on his empathy and integrity at a time when America stood on the brink of civil war. The short note, written on behalf of William Johnson, a young Black employee shunned by lighter-skinned colleagues, shows Lincoln personally seeking him employment—a remarkable act of compassion and equality for its time.

A President’s Personal Plea

It was March 16, 1861, just twelve days after Abraham Lincoln took the oath of office. The nation was fracturing under the weight of secession, yet the new president found time to write a letter of reference, not for a statesman or political ally, but for a young Black man in his service.

“The difference of color between him and the other servants is the cause of our separation,” Lincoln wrote in his plea to Navy Secretary Gideon Welles, referring to William Johnson, a 28-year-old valet and driver who had accompanied him from Springfield, Illinois.

The brief letter, now displayed at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, was recently donated by private collector Peter Tuite. Despite Lincoln’s endorsement, Welles replied that no positions were available.

But the significance of the letter goes far beyond the job request. It captures a president’s moral instinct to act with decency—even in the earliest, most chaotic days of his leadership.

Compassion Beyond Convention

In the rigid racial hierarchy of 19th-century America, even within the White House, skin tone dictated social status. That freed Black staffers with lighter complexions would shun Johnson for his darker skin reveals the depth of colorism that persisted even among emancipated communities.

Christina Shutt, executive director of the Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, said the note “contains layer upon layer” of meaning.

“We see him trying to help a friend. We see that even the new president cannot casually hand out jobs. We see issues of class and color within the White House,” Shutt explained.

That Lincoln would advocate for a Black employee’s dignity while managing a nation on the edge of war underscores both his humanity and the moral consistency that would later define his presidency.

Who Was William Johnson?

Little documentation survives about William Johnson’s early life. He began working for Lincoln in 1859 as a valet and driver in Springfield and followed him to Washington in early 1861.

Lincoln referred to him in letters as a “coloured boy,” an expression typical of the era but used affectionately rather than dismissively. Johnson’s relationship with Lincoln soon transcended that of employer and servant—it evolved into mutual respect and trust.

By November 1861, Lincoln helped Johnson secure a job at the Treasury Department, though Johnson continued to serve the president in personal ways—shaving him daily, managing his carriage, and assisting with errands.

Loyalty and Loss

Their bond deepened over time. In November 1863, Johnson accompanied Lincoln to Gettysburg, where the president delivered his famous address. When Lincoln fell mildly ill—possibly with smallpox—Johnson became his caregiver. Tragically, Johnson himself contracted the disease and died in early 1864.

Lincoln handled Johnson’s affairs personally. He ensured Johnson’s paycheck was delivered, paid for his coffin, and even offered to settle a $150 debt owed by Johnson, half of which the bank later forgave.

It was a gesture that reflected not only Lincoln’s affection for Johnson but also his enduring sense of responsibility toward those who served him faithfully.

A Glimpse Into Lincoln’s Moral Compass

Historian James Conroy, author and retired attorney, notes that Lincoln’s kindness toward Johnson was emblematic of his broader treatment of staff and subordinates.

“Nobody can question that Lincoln was a very kind guy, very empathetic, trying to help people when he could,” Conroy told the Associated Press. “And that crossed Black and white and male and female and everything else. He was a genuinely good guy.”

In his writings, Conroy described how Lincoln never demanded service from White House staff but “asked politely and let them bear no hardship he could lift.”

Such small details illuminate a side of Lincoln often overshadowed by his monumental political achievements—the personal decency that underpinned his public greatness.

The Letter’s Enduring Meaning

The March 1861 note stands today as more than a historical artifact. It’s a window into Lincoln’s moral character, a leader grounded in empathy, aware of injustice even within his own household, and willing to act with quiet courage.

As the nation spiraled toward civil war, Lincoln’s gesture toward one man foreshadowed his determination to seek justice for millions.

The letter, though modest in length, reveals the heart of a president who, despite the weight of history on his shoulders, refused to overlook the humanity of a single individual.