TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Honest, Abe? Former Chief Executives Come Clean

ADVERTISEMENT

By MARTIN FENNELLY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 16, 2009

Abraham Lincoln and George Washington, in separate, emotional Presidents Day interviews with ESPN's Peter Gammons, admitted using performance-enhancing drugs.

Washington, the "Father of Our Country," general of the Continental Army and the nation's first president, said he used steroids for a three-year period early in the Revolutionary War against the British, beginning with his crossing the Delaware.

"I felt an enormous amount of pressure to cross the Delaware," Washington told Gammons. "I cannot tell a lie."

Lincoln, the 16th president, who preserved the Union and ended slavery, admitted using performance enhancers beginning with the second Lincoln-Douglas debate and ending shortly before the Emancipation Proclamation.

"I was young. I was stupid. I was naive," The Great Emancipator said. "I wanted to prove to everyone that, you know, I was worth being one of the greatest presidents of all time. For that, I'm very sorry and deeply regretful."

Both men dabbed their eyes during the interviews, saying they felt they had let the nation down.
Washington, wearing heavy makeup and a light blue sweater, told Gammons that he stopped using steroids after the Battle of Brandywine.

"I have millions of fans out there that are, you know, will never look at me the same," said Washington, who said he was introduced to the substances by a Hessian at Trenton. "There were a lot of people doing a lot of things."

Lincoln said he initially lied about his steroids use when interviewed by photographer Matthew Brady.

"At the time, Peter, I wasn't even being truthful with myself," Lincoln told Gammons. "How am I going to be truthful with Matty?"

Lincoln added, "You can fool all of the people some of the time, and some of the people … You know, I just feel bad for the fans."

The confessions by arguably the two greatest presidents came on the heels of three-time American League MVP Alex Rodriguez telling ESPN that he used Primobolan and testosterone from 2001 to 2003.

"This is very hard, you know, because, well, I'm first in war, first and peace, first in the hearts, you know, it's hard," Washington said.

Lincoln, who said that he had malice toward none, insisted that he was "completely clean" while a rail-splitter and prairie lawyer and, most notably, when he delivered his famous Gettysburg Address.

"I had the greatest speech of my career at Gettysburg," Lincoln said. "I was clean, 100 percent. And look at 1864 and '65. No peaks and valleys. I think overall my career has been very consistent. I was there for my country and performing at a high level. I will hang my stovepipe hat on that. And I just ask that the American public to look at those years."

Neither Washington nor Lincoln said they had read President Chester Arthur's tell-all book.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT