Abraham Lincoln

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And his likeness stares down at us from up on high on Mt. Rushmore...

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as if he were a God surveying a universe of mere mortals.

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Lincoln was a great President, sure...

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But he was also a human being who hoped, despaired, loved, and bled just like the rest of us.

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Sometimes when we study "great" historical figures it's easy to forget that they were

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also just people... with weaknesses and worries like we have right now.

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As that Shakespeare fellow once said,

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"Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great,

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some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them."

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Before Lincoln became President, he suffered from bouts of extreme depression.

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When he was suicidal, his friends would actually

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lock him in a near-empty room for days so he couldn't hurt himself.

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They didn't have psychiatric medication or any real treatment for depression in those days.

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As a result, Lincoln struggled with mental illness his entire life.

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However, despite his lifelong struggles,

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Lincoln was intelligent, kind, brave... and a great President.

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We elected him to lead our country during its most difficult time.

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Doesn't it seem unlikely that somebody with serious mental illness in his or her past

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would be elected President nowadays?

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We research virtually every issue in a politician's past...

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... and it seems like nobody who went through

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much adversity makes the cut anymore.

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Do you think Abraham Lincoln could ever get elected today?

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If not, does that mean our system is too hyper-critical

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of those who run for public office?

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That we "analyze to death" small events in otherwise great lives,

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blowing up those small events to mean.. more than they should?

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What should we be willing to look past and forgive, and what is truly a red flag?

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Shmoop amongst yourselves.