'Law & Order' Sam Waterston Celebrates Lincoln's Legacy

There are many historic landmarks throughout the presidency of Abraham Lincoln; the Gettysburg Address, first debate with Stephen A. Douglas and the Emancipation Proclamation. And as the Proclamation is set for its 140-year anniversary, who better to help celebrate than award-winning actor Sam Waterston; a celebration that includes volunteers from nearby hotels, donating their time to help clean, paint and restore Lincoln’s Cottage.

Waterston is perhaps best known for his role as district attorney Jack McCoy on the hit television series Law & Order, but he certainly knows the nation’s 16th President well. Waterston has portrayed Lincoln on stage and screen (The Civil War, Gore Vidal's Lincoln, "Abe Lincoln in Illinois" on Broadway, voiced Lincoln in an exhibit at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, and delivered Lincoln's Cooper Union speech on May 5, 2004.) Waterston also served on the Advisory Committee for the Lincoln Bicentennial, celebrating Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday.

Waterson spoke to us via satellite from Lincoln’s Cottage, as he and historian Chris Epting celebrate all that Lincoln meant to America, along with 10-years of the Hampton Hotel’s Save-a-Landmark program, which has helped preserve more than 50 historical, fun and cultural landmarks along our nation’s highways!