SPRINGFIELD, Ill., April 19 (UPI) -- The 43rd U.S. president paid tribute to the 16th president as President George W. Bush dedicated the new Abraham Library and Museum in Springfield, Ill.
The $145 million museum hosts the world's largest collection of Lincoln artifacts and documents, following Abraham Lincoln's life from a log cabin in Indiana, through the Civil War years to his assassination at Ford's Theater in Washington April 14, 1865.
"The mission of this library is essential to our country," said Bush, "because to understand the life and the sacrifice of Abraham Lincoln is to understand the meaning and promise of America."
In a bit of self-depreciating humor the president said: "Most of you know, the first lady was a librarian. Any time she can get me into a library is a pretty good deal as far as she's concerned."
Gov. Rod Blagojevich, U.S. House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert and Senators Richard Durbin and Barack Obama headed a who's who of Illinois politicians attending the outdoor ceremony.
All 7,000 seats in front of the museum were taken and an equal number of spectators stood around Union Square Park for the dedication.
