FREEPORT — Freeport’s own Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas are descending upon Washington D.C.
George Buss, who portrays Lincoln, and Tim Connors, who brings Douglas to life, will give a performance about the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates at the National Archives on Feb. 22.
The event will mark the second National Archives appearance for Buss, who has performed as Lincoln for 32 years coast to coast. Connors has portrayed Douglas for more than 10 years in 11 states. He’s bringing his rendition of Douglas to the National Archives for the first time.
“This is pretty special,” Connors said. “I’m very honored and humbled to be a part of this with George and not only representing Freeport, but the debates themselves.”
The pair will perform what Buss called a 35-40 minute “reminiscence” about the debates over slavery and equality in the 1858 U.S. Senate campaign in Illinois. They’ll rehearse beforehand and use one of their five scripts, Connors said.
“We get prepared, but a lot of times after we’re done performing, there’s question-and-answer time,” Connors said. “That’s when you better be on your game and know what you’re talking about.”
Once Buss performs with Connors, he will switch from talking to Stephen Douglas to Frederick Douglass. Phil Darius Wallace of St. Louis will join Buss on stage to reenact one of the duo’s White House meetings.
The performance will be moderated by Harold Holzer, one of the country’s leading authorities on Abraham Lincoln. Holzer chaired the Lincoln Bicentennial Foundation and co-chairs The Lincoln Forum.
“We know that there were at least three meetings between Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, but there were no people present for that discussion,” Buss said. “What Harold has put together are the talking points he believes would have been in that discussion.”
Both Connors and Buss are convinced that when they retire from performing, others from Freeport will take over the mantle. It’s important for residents to understand their city’s role in American history, they said .
“The Lincoln-Douglas debates were a very important part for our nation’s destiny and the Freeport Doctrine is the most important part of the whole debate,” Connors said. “Everyone should grasp it and take hold of it and take part of that, just as everyone should be knowledgeable about it.”
Buss has been portraying Lincoln all over the country nearly full time since retiring in April. Right after the National Archives show, he and Connors will head to Minneapolis to perform at a Minnesota Masonic Charities fundraiser.
“It puts Freeport on the map and that is incredibly special,” Buss said. “It puts Freeport in context and to be those representatives is incredibly rewarding.”
Derrick Mason; 815-232-0133; derrick.mason@journalstandard.com; @derrickhmason
To watch
Seats for the performance are free and can be reserved at archivesfoundation.org. A live stream will be available on the U.S. National Archives YouTube channel starting at 7 p.m. on Feb. 22.