Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar » Gettysburg Address displayed “with an exploding rat”
SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax      Advertise Here      About     Exclusive Subscriber Content     Updated Posts    Contact Rich Miller
CapitolFax.com
To subscribe to Capitol Fax, click here.
Gettysburg Address displayed “with an exploding rat”

Wednesday, Nov 27, 2019 - Posted by Rich Miller

* Bruce Rushton

The inspector general’s office is at it again.

This time, gumshoes figured out that Alan Lowe, erstwhile executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, wasn’t up to snuff. The investigation, according to an IG report released last Friday, was sparked by a tipster who blew the whistle three weeks after I wrote a column detailing the sordid journey of the Gettysburg Address to Texas, where right-wing huckster Glenn Beck displayed it along with an exploding rat and other scrapings from his collection of stuff that includes a Darth Vader mask and a fake pair of Dorothy’s ruby slippers. If Elvis had run a thrift store, I’m guessing it would have looked a lot like the storage room at Mercury One, the Texas nonprofit headed by Beck.

Pretty much, the IG’s report parallels my January column that questioned why the ALPLM ignored protocols and entrusted the Gettysburg Address to an unaccredited museum holding its first exhibition under the supervision of a curator months removed from employment as a server at Pluckers Wing Bar. Labeling the Mercury One loan “reckless,” the IG called for Lowe’s head and said we’re fortunate that artifacts came back intact. Instead of being displayed in a gallery, the Gettysburg Address was hung in Beck’s office. To compare Beck to Ralphie unwrapping his Red Ryder BB gun doesn’t go far enough.

“It’s Christmas, come on!” Beck exclaims as the Gettysburg Address and other relics are taken from a crate. “Let’s open presents!” Lowe was absent in the video that was live-streamed while gawkers watched in person, contrary to recommendations from pros who say the arrival of valuables should be kept low key to minimize security risks. Lowe told the inspector general he was “off doing other things” when the speech and other artifacts were unpacked, and he was also busy elsewhere when relics were repacked for the return trip to Springfield. Beck, who at one point questions the need for gloves, helps carry the document valued at $20 million to a table in his office. “Come see it for yourself,” he tells his online audience. “Tickets are available at the door.”

Even after the inspector general received a complaint, Lowe played footsie with Beck, whose outfit asked to borrow more artifacts, including a copy of the Emancipation Proclamation.

But, yeah, Lowe’s ouster was all about politics. Right.

Go read the whole thing because there’s lots more.

       

17 Comments
  1. - Bruce (no not him) - Wednesday, Nov 27, 19 @ 9:56 am:

    Exploding rats are an important historical artifact. At least to Glenn Beck.
    I’m not sure one can compare it to a handwritten copy of the Gettysburg address. /S


  2. - Bertrum Cates - Wednesday, Nov 27, 19 @ 9:57 am:

    I am not the biggest Rushton fan, but, “If Elvis had run a thrift store, I’m guessing it would have looked a lot like the storage room at Mercury One,” is a great line.


  3. - Can - Wednesday, Nov 27, 19 @ 9:57 am:

    Dear Tennessee,

    Please keep Alan Lowe. Unlike the Gettysburg Address, we do not want him back.

    Sincerely,
    Illinois


  4. - Sayitaintso - Wednesday, Nov 27, 19 @ 9:58 am:

    Dog excrement is several steps above the class shown by these (fill in the blank). (In your head)


  5. - efudd - Wednesday, Nov 27, 19 @ 10:01 am:

    Questioned the need for gloves?

    Anyone with rudimentary knowledge of human biology knows that hands contain natural oils, which doesn’t pair well with paper, especially old paper.

    Beck not understanding this, or caring, is a direct reflection of his megalomania. How anyone can listen to him absolutely mystifies me.


  6. - OutOfState - Wednesday, Nov 27, 19 @ 10:14 am:

    ===Anyone with rudimentary knowledge of human biology===

    Heck, anyone who watched National Treasure knows to use gloves.


  7. - Pelonski - Wednesday, Nov 27, 19 @ 10:21 am:

    I would agree with Mr. Lowe that politics got him fired, but I’m not sure we would agree on who was the culprit. I can’t imagine his lending the documents to Beck was anything but politically motivated. He took an apolitical job, made it political, and put one of the world’s most valuable documents at unnecessary risk. Regardless of your political affiliation, I don’t see how you could justify keeping him in that position.


  8. - DuPage Saint - Wednesday, Nov 27, 19 @ 10:24 am:

    This makes me ill


  9. - Stuntman Bob's Brother - Wednesday, Nov 27, 19 @ 10:32 am:

    I’m kind of amazed that a document worth $20 million isn’t permanently encased in some kind of sealed, nitrogen-filled display case, especially if it’s going to be loaned out. You know, to protect it from coffee spills and such. Maybe because then it wouldn’t have fit in a standard FedEx box?


  10. - Huh? - Wednesday, Nov 27, 19 @ 10:39 am:

    I’m wondering if the exploding rat was in the show case or sitting at a desk with a “glen beck” name plate.


  11. - JoanP - Wednesday, Nov 27, 19 @ 10:42 am:

    Sorry, but, with some exceptions (daguerrotypes, for instance), NOT using gloves is the best practice.

    I have visited a slew of Special Collections (at the University of Chicago, the Newberry Library, etc.), and it is very rare to be asked to use gloves.

    https://guides.library.yale.edu/speccollhandling

    https://library.pdx.edu/news/the-proper-handling-of-rare-books-manuscripts/

    https://twitter.com/NewberryLibrary/status/1161278337857347586

    https://www.betweenthecovers.com/articlesDetail.php?event_id=49


  12. - Streator Curmudgeon - Wednesday, Nov 27, 19 @ 10:47 am:

    “…right-wing huckster Glenn Beck…”

    I’m constantly amazed at the people in the U.S. who follow folks like this. Whatever became of the ability to distinguish between right and wrong?


  13. - Steve Rogers - Wednesday, Nov 27, 19 @ 10:54 am:

    @pelonski. Politics didn’t get Lowe fired, that just feeds the false narrative that Lowe is a victim here. His reckless abandonment of a priceless treasure and hubris got him fired. Deservedly so.


  14. - LakeCo - Wednesday, Nov 27, 19 @ 11:03 am:

    Well, to be fair on the glove question, current best practices in archives management do not require the use of gloves when handling historic documents, as the loss of tactile sensation and dexterity pretty much cancels out the protection the gloves offer. The industry standard now is to wash your hands before handling manuscripts.
    This is also moot because the Gettysburg Address was in a frame.
    But Glenn Beck is still disgusting, as is the act of loaning him a priceless artifact.


  15. - OneMan - Wednesday, Nov 27, 19 @ 11:33 am:

    Now if it was displayed with Chicago Legend Scaby The Rat, I could see that…


  16. - Da Big Bad Wolf - Wednesday, Nov 27, 19 @ 11:39 am:

    If you got an exploding rat, why do you need the Gettysburg Address?


  17. - Streator Curmudgeon - Wednesday, Nov 27, 19 @ 1:56 pm:

    Wolf, I concur.


Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.


* Reader comments closed for the holidays
* And the winners are…
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Update to previous editions
* Isabel’s afternoon roundup
* Report: Far-right Illinois billionaires may have skirted immigration rules
* Question of the day: Golden Horseshoe Awards (Updated)
* Energy Storage Brings Cheaper Electricity, Greater Reliability
* Open thread
* Isabel’s morning briefing
* SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today's edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
* Live coverage
* Selected press releases (Live updates)
* Yesterday's stories

Support CapitolFax.com
Visit our advertisers...

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............

...............


Loading


Main Menu
Home
Illinois
YouTube
Pundit rankings
Obama
Subscriber Content
Durbin
Burris
Blagojevich Trial
Advertising
Updated Posts
Polls

Archives
December 2024
November 2024
October 2024
September 2024
August 2024
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
April 2024
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009
July 2009
June 2009
May 2009
April 2009
March 2009
February 2009
January 2009
December 2008
November 2008
October 2008
September 2008
August 2008
July 2008
June 2008
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
January 2008
December 2007
November 2007
October 2007
September 2007
August 2007
July 2007
June 2007
May 2007
April 2007
March 2007
February 2007
January 2007
December 2006
November 2006
October 2006
September 2006
August 2006
July 2006
June 2006
May 2006
April 2006
March 2006
February 2006
January 2006
December 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004
October 2004

Blog*Spot Archives
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005

Syndication

RSS Feed 2.0
Comments RSS 2.0




Hosted by MCS SUBSCRIBE to Capitol Fax Advertise Here Mobile Version Contact Rich Miller