Tête à Tête - Hartford, CT - Abraham Lincoln on Waymarking.com

Sixteen abstract and traditional sculptures related to the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln are installed along the Lincoln Financial Sculpture Walk at Riverfront in Hartford and East Hartford. Lincoln Financial is an insurance company based in Philadelphia with offices in Hartford.

Lincoln was known as a magnanimous president. He often granted citizens clemency, pardoned soldiers who were sentenced to death for desertion, and granted amnesty to nearly 90% of Confederate troops. A sculpture entitled Tête à Tête consists of a pair of stainless steel pieces, by Howard Fromson, that strongly resemble seats. They are installed near a wall in a small alcove. The sculpture suggest Lincoln's willingness to have a discussion with citizens about their hardships.

The plaque begins with one of Lincoln's most quoted phrases taken from his Second Inaugural Address and is inscribed:

{Profile of Lincoln}
Lincoln
Financial
Sculpture
Walk at
Riverfront
{five wavy lines}

Tête à Tête
Howard Fromson, 2005

"With malice toward none; with charity
for all..."

Abraham Lincoln was known for his magnanimous
response to clemency requests. Even during wartime, the
public had open access to the White House, so he was
frequently approached by citizens seeking favors or
wishing to discuss their hardships. There are multiple
accounts of how the president, upon hearing of a mother or
father's sympathetic story, pardoned Union soldiers
sentenced to death for desertion or falling asleep on
sentry duty, even though his generals claimed it
undermined their discipline. "I guess he cab serve his
country better above the ground than under it," Lincoln
reportedly responded to one request. Lincoln's mercy also
was extended to his enemies - he granted amnesty to
nearly 90% of the Confederate troops.