New York newspaper claimed that while touring the Antietam
battlefield in 1862, Lincoln, despite the grisly scene, asked a friend
to sing cheerful songs. That was a lie. The story infuriated Lin-
coln’s friends. They spurred the president to compose a refuta-
tion, but Lincoln didn’t send it. He knew
that issuing a heated denial would most
likely just fuel the controversy.
Billy frequently took several days
before responding to criticisms. He knew
the importance of avoiding a knee-jerk
reaction. At times he didn’t respond at
all, especially when they ridiculed him
personally or attacked his motives.
“People didn’t understand his heart,” Cliff Barrows told us. “He
could never answer those criticisms, for he told me that trying to
answer those kinds of charges drained him of his energy. He
would not defend any attack that was toward him personally. I
think God honored that in a special way.”
Instead of being defensive, Lincoln often used humor to dif-
fuse the tension. When one speaker droned on about Lincoln’s
shortcomings, he responded by observing that “the oratory of
the gentleman completely suspends all action of his mind.”
Lincoln’s witty statements underscored his refusal to take criti-
cism too seriously.
Treat Critics Better Than They Deserve
Even if unfair criticisms are made publicly, it’s rarely wise to
counterattack publicly. The result is usually a spraying match with
a skunk. It doesn’t produce an atmosphere that makes anyone—
friend or foe—want to linger.
“Billy had a practice never to speak disparagingly of another
person publicly,” said Cliff Barrows. He recalled a situation during
the Los Angeles meetings, when a local pastor’s members were
very involved in the campaign, but the pastor felt the meetings
were hindering his church ministry, infringing on the Wednesday
night prayer services.
The Leadership Secrets of Billy GrahamIf the end brings me out all
right, what is said against
me won’t amount to
anything. If the end brings
me out wrong, then ten
angels swearing I was right
would make no difference.
ABRAHAM LINCOLN