Episode 484: Abraham Lincoln

The Good Old Days of Radio Show · Apr 21, 2026 · 1h 3m

This week, we kick off a three-part series on Abraham Lincoln, to compliment our Crime Classics episode on Thursday. We're starting out with a 1938 broadcast from The Mercury Theatre on the Air, starring Orson Welles; a dramatic, personal look at Lincoln’s life during the Civil War, built from a mix of theatrical storytelling and his own words, pulled from letters and speeches. You’ll hear the weight of the presidency, from cabinet conflicts to the enormous burden of holding the Union together and pushing toward the end of slavery. Welles captures both Lincoln’s strength and his humanity…