The emancipation proclamation freed no one. The southern states had seceeded from the union (a right all states took as given by the way). As such, the union had no authority over the southern states, that is until they were forced back "into the fold" by military force. I can see Washington and Bush 43 in 25 years as being the great ones, but including lincoln is reprehensible.
See "THE REAL LINCOLN" Thomas DiLorenzo for information on just how much damage 16 did to the constitution!
You Lincoln hating crackers give this whole forum a bad name.
As for Dubya, I will someday proudly call him, "The Abraham Lincoln of the Middle East."
Revisionist crap.
May as well read Kitty Kelly's expose on Nancy Reagan. Or watch The Blob's "Fahrenheit 911."