“If you would win a man to your cause, first convince him that you are his sincere friend.”
These words were spoken by Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States, 183 years ago this week. They were said while Lincoln was still a member of the Illinois General Assembly and a practicing lawyer, nearly 20 years before he first took the Presidential Oath of Office, but they still ring true today.
Lincoln knew the significance of building genuine relationships and trust when advocating for a cause and regularly met with the public at the White House during his presidency. He implemented an open-door policy that was more accessible than his predecessors. Lincoln abolished the practice of requiring prior introductions or letters of introduction for White House visits and held public receptions called “levees,” where the public could meet him.
Lincoln referred to these public meetings as his “public opinion baths,” considering them essential for staying connected with the average citizen. The open-door policy was so popular that during his first levee, the line of visitors extended down Pennsylvania Avenue, with some reportedly climbing through windows to see him.
Despite eventually implementing restrictions on public visiting hours, Abraham Lincoln frequently disregarded his own rules to accommodate visitors, and the White House remained crowded. The public meetings were so popular and so impactful that Lincoln’s staff struggled to manage the constant flow of visitors, even with the imposed restrictions.
Lincoln viewed these interactions as crucial, stating that no hours of his day were better employed than those bringing him into direct contact with the public. This approach, while taxing on the president and his staff, allowed Lincoln to stay in touch with public sentiment throughout his presidency.
Join Us in Washington, D.C.—April 7 and 8!
The 16th President of the United States will look on from his seat at the Lincoln Memorial as ABMA members travel to Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. for our third annual Advocacy Day on April 7-8. We urge you to join us in meeting with elected officials to make a lasting impact. Whether in business or government, nothing is more powerful than face-to-face conversations. We encourage members to share who we are as an industry, what we do, and why it matters. Advocacy is about building relationships, and elected officials want to hear directly from their constituents. When our members show up, we see results. Learn more about Advocacy Day, and register to attend today at ABMAlliance.org.
