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Photos: Presidential visits to the Decatur area
Abraham Lincoln - 1830s and beyond
The corner of Main and Main streets in downtown Decatur, known as Lincoln Square, is filled with Lincoln history. At the square, Abe Lincoln is believed to have camped with his family when they first came to town.
Lincoln also delivered his first political speech and practiced law at a log courthouse at the square.
Ulysses Grant - 1880
Ulysses Grant visited the city in 1880, a few years after leaving office.
Rutherford B. Hayes - 1880
President Rutherford B. Hayes visited Decatur in 1880.
William McKinley - 1898
President William McKinley addressed a Decatur crowd estimated at 15,000 to 20,000 people on Oct. 16, 1898.
Teddy Roosevelt - 1903
President Theodore Roosevelt talked at Millikin University in 1903. Roosevelt visited Decatur on several occasions but this was the only time he came to speak. He spoke at the dedication of the university. On that day, trains brought an estimated 7,000 people into the city and a large part of Decatur’s 25,000 population turned out to welcome him.
William Howard Taft - 1911
President William Taft, left, sits next to Millikin University President Albert Taylor during a visit to Decatur in 1911. Taft made one speech at Millikin and one in Lincoln Square which was jammed with 1,000 people.
Franklin D. Roosevelt -1920
Click here for the transcript of Franklin D. Roosevelt's Oct. 11, 1920, speech in Decatur.
Herbert Hoover - 1931
President Herbert Hoover campaigned in Decatur in June 1931.
Harry S Truman - 1939
Click here for a transcript of future President Harry S Truman's speech to the Traffic Club on June 13, 1939.
Harry S Truman - 1948
Harry S Truman appeared with wife Bess and Margaret in 1948 in Decatur.
Harry S Truman - 1948
President Harry S Truman spoke in Decatur in October 1948.
Harry S Truman - 1952
President Harry S Truman spoke in Decatur on Nov. 1, 1952. Click here for the transcript.
John Kennedy - 1959
Robert McCarthy, then a state representative, broke with other downstate politicians to invite John Kennedy to Decatur in October 1959. This Herald & Review photograph of McCarthy and Kennedy at Decatur Airport was first published after Kennedy was killed in November 1963.
Richard Nixon - 1961
Then-Vice President Richard Nixon appeared in Wyman Park in Sullivan on Sept. 22, 1960.
Jimmy Carter - 1975
Former Georgia Gov. Jimmy Carter campaigned at Richland Community College in September 1975.
Gerald Ford - 1976
President Gerald R. Ford's whistle-stop tour came through Lincoln in 1976. His son, Stephen, also visited Decatur in October 1976.
Ronald Reagan - 1984
Click here for the full speech by President Ronald Reagan in Decatur on Aug. 21, 1984.
Reagan visited Archer Daniels Midland headquarters and Millikin University.
Barack Obama - 1990s and beyond
Barack Obama made numerous trips to Decatur as a state senator representing Chicago and as a U.S. senator.
Contact Tony Reid at (217) 421-7977. Follow him on Twitter: @TonyJReid
Tony Reid
Macon County Courts Reporter
