We would like to assume all of our presidents of the United States had been truly nice men and to be sure, just dealing with the awesome duty of the presidency takes a special sort of individual. One of the unique and great issues concerning the system of presidency in America is the concept of citizen leadership. That is the idea of an atypical citizen rising up and turning into president for a while after which returning to private life.

But of the handful of males who've held that office, a couple of have stood out for his or her nice achievements and leadership in a time that modified the country for ever. And one in every of these really nice presidents was Abraham Lincoln. In all probability greater than some other president, Lincoln had to handle an inner civil struggle that was excess of shouting and title calling. This was a dispute that could have torn the country in half and starting a rupturing that would have resulted in dozens of small weak impartial states instead of the powerful nation we all know as America today.

It was Lincoln’s leadership, his dedication to values and his sturdy ethical fiber that made it doable for America to seek out its approach via that war after which to start the healing process that will eventually lead the nation again to unity once again. Lincoln’s time period of service from 1860 till his demise was one in every of considerable challenge. If he solely had the issue of coping with the attempt by the south to succeed from the union and his capability to maintain these states as a part of the American nationwide territory, he could be lauded as an excellent American indeed.

One of many little identified management types that Lincoln used to his advantage within the organization of his presidency was his appointment of proficient nationwide figures from opposing political parties to be a part of his cabinet. Lincoln felt that he wanted to have close advisors from the opposing viewpoint to maintain from having his presidency turn into insulated from the American people and one sided. By gathering members of the “loyal opposition” into his trusted internal circle, Lincoln was all the time aware of both sides of each subject which made him a stronger leader.

But that's not even his greatest accomplishment or the one which we keep in mind him for the most. His bold and unchanging opposition to slavery is with none doubt his biggest contribution to the history of America and certainly to world history as well. When he was keen to put all the pieces on the line to stop this barbaric social sin, Lincoln made a stand, against the popular opinion of the time in many instances that he could be the figure to bring slavery to an end.

It was not a stand that came with out cost. The civil conflict was one of many bloodiest and costliest within the nation’s history if for no other motive than all casualties; on each side have been casualties of America. It could take many a long time for the ravages of that horrible battle to be repaired. The schism between north and south continued for decades and is still a part of our national persona in this country.

However the finish end result was what Lincoln needed to be his legacy. By issuing the Emancipation Proclamation to make the top of slavery permanent, Lincoln adopted that up with the passing of the thirteenth, 14th and 15th amendments which made permanent the freedoms that had been hard fought and won in the Civil War.

The liberty that was won for therefore many black Individuals in that struggle permanently enshrined the memory of Abraham Lincoln as one in every of our greatest presidents within the hearts and minds of all Americans. Small wonder the monument honoring him on Washington’s national mall is among the most revered spots in the nation and one that thousands flock to every year to provide respect for this nice president that made liberty and freedom a reality for all Americans, not only a few. And his face on Mount Rushmore is well deserved so the very mountain itself shouts out, this is among the biggest leaders within the history of this great country.

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New Dancing with The Stars cast member David Hasselhoff can count on Jerry Springer’s vote.

A third season DWTS alum and fan favorite, Springer believes The Hoff has what it takes to snag the coveted mirror ball trophy. “I think David will do very well. [He] knows how to dance, which is something that never crossed my talent pool,” the TV host told PEOPLE last week while promoting America’s Got Talent‘s 25-city tour, “He’s such an out-sized personality that I think much of the show will gravitate towards him.”

All eyes will be on Hasselhoff, 58, as he sashays into the ballroom in the famously flamboyant DWTS costumes with partner Kym Johnson. Springer, 66, who was also paired with Johnson believes the combination will have audiences glued to their televisions. “When he walks in a room, everyone’s paying attention to David — and Kym is a great partner, “ Springer said.

After a messy divorce and recent stints in rehab, the show could be a bright new chapter for the Baywatch star. As Springer points out, “He barrels through. Life isn’t a smooth line and he’s handled his bumps very well and inside there’s a real good person there and it shows, ultimately, when things get tough. He’s there.” – Michelle Ward and Cynthia Wang

Michael Kovac/FilmMagic; Mike Marsland/WireImage

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Paris Hilton in Maui

Courtesy Paris Hilton

Paris Hilton has left her troubles with the law behind as she lives it up in Maui.

On Sunday, the heiress, 29, indulged in a home-cooked Italian feast for two, one of whom was presumably her current squeeze Cy Waits, a Las Vegas nightclub executive.

"Cooked a delicious lasagna dinner for my love and watched a movie," Hilton Tweeted. "Now going to bed. Sweet dreams everyone."

There was more eating on Monday, but this time it was on the beach and was capped off with a movie. "Had a beautiful romantic dinner on the beach," she later Tweeted. "Now in bed about to watch Precious. I love this movie, so moving and emotional."

Next up? Scuba diving.

"I felt like Ariel the little mermaid under the sea today," Hilton wrote after her scuba experience. "So much fun!"

After visits to island art galleries, Hilton finally wound down and crashed out in the wee hours of Tuesday morning, explaining that she, "just finished watching Eastern Promises. What a dope movie! Viggo Mortensen is bad ass! Going to bed. Sweet dreams everyone. Xo Paris :)"

At some point after her vacation in paradise Hilton will have to face the music. She was charged with felony cocaine possession following her weekend arrest in Las Vegas. The drug charge carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison if convicted.

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While her dreams may be finally coming true, the expectant mum insists she has no plans of combining her successful career — including a Grammy nomination — with her personal life.

“I don’t think it’s that much a part of me, to be honest,” she says of her decision to not tell her future children of her pop star days.

“It’s something I’ve done, that I enjoyed doing, and I may go back to doing it in years to come, but I’ve got to believe that there is more.”

What will take center stage, then? Raising her kids in as normal and family-oriented environment as possible, Allen explains.

“It’s not that I didn’t enjoy my childhood, because I did, but I suppose I was always quite fascinated by how a normal family would operate,” she muses. “Because everyone I knew when I was growing up came from divorced parents. I do remember when I had my first proper boyfriend at 16, going to his parents’ house in Ireland and we all sat round had dinner together and I was really overwhelmed by the whole thing.”

– Anya Leon

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By Alison Schwartz and Liza Hamm

Update Sunday September 05, 2010 04:00 PM EDT Originally posted Sunday September 05, 2010 09:00 AM EDT

Harold Dieterle and Meredith Lynn Davies

Kristen Alexander

Congratulations – or should we say bon appétit? – to 2006 Top Chef winner Harold Dieterle, who tied the knot with fellow foodie and longtime girlfriend Meredith Lynn Davies Saturday.

In traditional Southern style, the pair married in Davies's hometown, Atlanta, at a downtown church. They then celebrated their nuptials at a reception held at the Capital City Country Club, where Davies donned a Pnina Tornai gown, and Dieterle wore a Paul Stuart white dinner jacket.

And the wedding ceremony was a Top Chef affair: Fellow season one competitors Lee Anne Wong and Stephen Asprinio were among the 175 guests to attend. Not in attendance? Judge Tom Colicchio, who dished out a few words of wisdom to Dieterle even though he couldn't make the ceremony due to his shooting schedule.

"He just wished me good luck and had some advice," Dieterle tells PEOPLE.

The couple, who met at the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen, Colo., which was part of the prize package for Dieterle's Top Chef victory, treated guests to a fox trot to Ray Lamontagne's "You Are the Best Thing" for their first dance.

The biggest surprise: The Top Chef stayed out of the kitchen – he didn't even know what was on the menu, which was catered by the country club, prior to the reception.

The newlyweds are jetting off to Rome Sunday morning for an Italian honeymoon, which will also include stops in Positano and Sicily.

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Ben Affleck and Jon Hamm

Getty; Landov

Ben Affleck shares some steamy scenes with Blake Lively and Rebecca Hall in his new film The Town – and don't forget about costar Jon Hamm.

"My sex scenes with Ben, which were cut, I think, wisely … were raunchy," Hamm joked Friday at the Toronto International Film Festival, as the entire room roared with laughter.

Even if they didn't ever share a bed, Hamm did work closely with Affleck, who directed and stars in the thriller. And how would the Mad Men star describe their collaboration?

"It was an awful experience," he deadpanned. "[Ben's] a horrible human being. Talent-free, I guess we could probably say. It was pure misery … two-and-half months of absolute, abject terror."

Or maybe not.

"No, it was truly a wonderful experience," Hamm said. "To actually have to bring that intensity and the wonderful performance that he brought in front of the camera, it's an amazing achievement – and I'm very proud to be associated with it."

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Don’t worry, Real Housewives of New Jersey fans: Danielle Staub may have bid that show farewell, but she’s not planning to disappear from reality television altogether.

“I’ve been approached by some very large networks and production companies that are very happy to try to steal me away from Bravo,” she tells PEOPLE. “I’m keeping my options open now.”

As for a show format? It will be all Staub — all the time.

“It will be my own show but it will be a lot more of me,” she says, laughing. Also joining her prospective show: her daughters Christine, a model, and Jillian, who has recorded a song. “It will be everyone who is around me every day who loves me and cares about me and it will cover the relationships we have,” she says.

But don’t expect a completely lovey-dovey atmosphere if the show makes it to air. “We do fight. And we get into it. There’s a lot of drama in my life,” says Staub, 48. “But there’s also a lot of resolve. Wouldn’t it be great to have that?”

“I think people who want to see more of me might be careful what they wish for,” she says. “There’s a lot more of me to come! I’m the Susan Lucci of reality TV.” – Charlotte Triggs and Rennie Dyball

Tell us: Would you watch Danielle Staub’s new reality show? Will you miss her on Housewives?

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Jenna Morasca and Ethan Zohn at Stand Up to Cancer

Matt Baron/Beimages

Now that Ethan Zohn's rare form of Hodgkin's lymphoma is in remission, the former Survivor contestant is savoring every healthy moment, and even took a triumphant run past the hospital where he spent months fighting for his life.

"I just – for the first time ever – jogged past the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City," Zohn told PEOPLE at the Stand Up to Cancer telecast in L.A. Friday, "and that was a big moment for me."

A robust-looking Zohn, once again sporting the trademark dark curls he lost after chemotherapy treatments, said the experience was exhilarating. "When I left that hospital on Jan. 12, 2010, I couldn't even walk," he said. "I had to be taken out in a wheelchair. So to be able to run by there, healthy, that was the best feeling in the world!"

Zohn, 36, has been in remission since April, but still goes for regular checkups. "Until you get to five years, it's not considered cured," he explained. "But now I'm just happy to wake up in the morning [and] go for a jog."

The reality star appreciates "Stand Up to Cancer" for funding treatments and research like the experimental stem cell transplant that saved his life when chemotherapy failed. But he also has the support of girlfriend (and fellow Survivor alum) Jenna Morasca.

"I never, ever doubted he was going to beat it," she told PEOPLE. "But there were times when I felt like I just wanted to throw my hands up and say 'I can't do this anymore. It's too much.' "

"Those were the times when I'd call my girlfriends and say ‘Can I just come over to your house and cry? Please don't talk to me. Just let me cry,' " Morasca recalled. "If I didn't have good friends, I wouldn't be able to make it through that."

One positive out of the experience: Morasa is newly smitten with her beau's much-shorter hair.

"I'm excited about the faux-hawk, because I wasn't too into the curls," she said, teasing. "It was too preppy-good-guy. This is like a badass look for me, so it's kind of like having a new boyfriend. So it's like a win-win for me."

The couple hopes to return to television together – and possibly even try Survivor again.

"I don’t know – maybe in another year or so, when I'm healthier," Zohn said. "Just so I can beat Jenna."

Reporting By DAHVI SHIRA

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Leann Rimes and Eddie Cibrian

Felix Gonzalez IPHOTO

All LeAnn Rimes wanted for her birthday was a little solitude.

Well, she got that last week in Mexico. This week, though, she got some expensive jewelry from her boyfriend Eddie Cibrian. No, not that kind of jewelry.

"Eddie gave me some rose gold bangles which were beautiful," she said Saturday while celebrating her birthday at Tabu in Las Vegas. "It was very sweet."

Rimes, who turned 28 last week, said she only wanted "peace and quiet" for her birthday, and she satisfied that wish with a recent trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, with Cibrian, her live-in boyfriend. The relaxation is needed now that two children are a consistent presence in her home. Cibrian shares custody of his  two children – Mason, 7, and Jake, 3 – with his ex, model Brandi Glanville.

"It's quite chaotic," the country singer said of the household. "I went from being by myself to having two kids in the house. It's really amazing. They're really incredible."

Rimes is embracing her new life, as well as her increasing age.

"I'm actually one of those strange people that actually enjoys getting older," she said. "My age was made such a big deal out of when I was little, so I always wanted to get older. I'm still kind of in that frame of mind. Maybe when I hit 30 that will change."

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Jay Turner and Niecy Nash

Todd Williamson/WireImage

Niecy Nash will be a spring bride.

The Style Network's Emmy-winning Clean House host is engaged to boyfriend Jay Tucker, PEOPLE has confirmed.

"They're very happy and are in love and are looking forward to sharing the rest of their lives together," her rep Joseph Babineaux says.

Nash, 40, a former Dancing With the Stars contestant, and her electrical engineer beau announced their plans to get married at a weekend party where guests included her Dancing partner Louis van Amstel. Tucker then surprised her by presenting her with a diamond engagement ring, according to Entertainment Tonight.

"I cannot believe that God has been this kind that he would gift me this man," Nash tells ET. She adds: "Falling in love was the easy part, planning a wedding – yikes!"

The wedding will be in May 2011. Nash was divorced from her first husband, Don Nash, in 2007. They have three children.

• Reporting by MIKE FLEEMAN

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Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore

Eric Charbonneau/WireImage

It was an A-list fete Sunday when Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher came out to celebrate the recent wedding and baby girl on the way for pals James Van Der Beek and Kimberly Brook.

Joined by Moore's daughters Rumer and Scout, the group spent the day at the pink-themed Hollywood Hills home of hosts Balthazar and Rosetta Getty.

"The party was very small and intimate," a source tells PEOPLE. "Ashton and Demi looked happy and totally unaffected by recent relationship rumors. James and Kim were glowing. Despite being about to burst, Kim looked amazing."

Guests of the low-key affair, catered by H.wood and h.wood tea beverages, were served sushi, sliders, beet salad and mixed veggies.

Brook, due this month, tied the knot with Van Der Beek in a private ceremony in Tel Aviv, Israel, in August.

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Kevin Federline in July 2009 and Aug. 2010

John M. Heller/Getty; Pacific Coast News

Say goodbye to K-Fat.

At least, that's what Kevin Federline is hoping as he whips himself back into shape after gaining enough weight to prompt some to label him with the unkind nickname.

"Kevin has lost 25 lbs., and is working on getting back into top shape," Federline's rep Marilyn Lopez tells PEOPLE.

Along with a new physique has come a renewed passion for getting back to work, Lopez says of the former back-up dancer. "He can't wait to start acting and dancing again and going on auditions next year."?

? Britney Spears's ex-husband – and father of her children – is also going strong in the romance department, according to a Federline friend.

"Kevin and Victoria are really doing great," says the friend, referring to his relationship with former college volleyball star Victoria Prince. "Although he and Britney don't talk much, they are co-parenting as best they can [and] working together to make the best decisions for their boys."

Earlier this week, Federline, 32, defended his ex-wife against allegations of sexual harassment by a security guard. His lawyer told PEOPLE Federline "is satisfied that the allegations are a product of economic motives."

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Courtesy Elle Magazine

Kate Hudson may rock some high-octane looks on the red carpet, but she prefers a more relaxed vibe when it comes to her everyday attire. “My personal style has never changed,” she tells Elle UK in its October issue, adding: “I love comfortable clothes and a lot of accessories.” In fact, the fewer clothes the better, says the actress and mom, who took time out from her Tuscan vacation with six-year-old son Ryder and British rock star boyfriend Matt Bellamy, to pose for the magazine’s cover. “I don’t like clothes that constrict me. It’s like, would you like to put some clothes on? No, I wouldn’t!” But one thing she’ll happily pile on? Her coveted accessories, especially her mom’s jewelry gifts. “For my birthday this year, she made me a gold necklace with a comedy/tragedy mask pendant. It has a little diamond as the tear,” she says. Claiming not to splurge on sartorial investments, Hudson says she does like to buy nice furniture like “chairs and lamps” and has one particular cabinet which is very close to her heart, as it’s full of her favorite scarves…Hermès scarves. “I have nearly 200 and I buy them all over some new, some from eBay, some from weird little places. I have a cabinet that I lay them out in. I love them they’re so beautifully made.” –Monique Jessen

Edited by Melissa Liebling-Goldberg

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Making good on her pre-Dancing with the Stars season promise, Bristol Palin is literally encased in black lace for her newly-released publicity shot. Definitely more modest than what fans are used to seeing the stars spin around the floor in — but still with a bit of skin exposed!

Palin, 19, calls herself “naturally shy” and wants to make sure she sets a good example for her son, Tripp, 20 months.

Would you like to see her stick to her non-revealing plan or spice it up a bit more?

Bob D’Amico/ABC

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Kim Kardashian

Mathew Imaging/WireImage

Does Kim Kardashian have eyes for someone (or something) besides beau Miles Austin?

"She's dating her work," sister Kourtney Kardashian said. "Kim is a workaholic."

Clearly joking about her ubiquitous sister's love life, Kourtney said she simply wants Kim to be happy. And Kim seemed happy in Dallas last week, visiting Austin and cheering his team, the Dallas Cowboys, during last week's game.

"[Kim] is having fun," Kourtney said at Las Vegas's Hard Rock Hotel at an event for Beach Bunny Swimwear. "I don't think she's found that perfect person for her yet."

"Everything happens for a reason, like Khloe [Kardashian] and Lamar [Odom]," Kourtney added. " One second you meet someone, and you're married a month later. You never know. There is no time limit. Not everyone meets their perfect person at the same age."

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Kanye West and Taylor Swift

Foc Kan/WireImage; George Napolitano/FilmMagic

Will there be another showdown? ?

?Both Taylor Swift and Kanye West are set to perform on Sunday's MTV Video Music Awards, a source tells PEOPLE. But the stars are not expected to share the stage during the ceremony at L.A.'s Nokia Theater.

While West's performance was announced last month, Swift's appearance was set to be a surprise. Other previously announced performers include Drake and Usher.

The two made headlines when West infamously interrupted Swift's acceptance speech as she attempted to collect her best female video trophy at 2009's ceremony. (West thought the award should have gone to Beyoncé.)

Weeks before the ceremony, this year's host, Chelsea Handler, said she'd love to reunite the pair on the show. "We've never really seen them together since then," she said.

West has subsequently apologized to Swift, and even Tweeted that he had written her a song, "that's so beautiful and I want her to have it." ?

?A rep for Swift could not be reached for comment, and MTV declined to comment.

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Bauer-Griffin

It’s shaping up to be a big year for newlyweds Sophie Dahl and Jamie Cullum!

The couple — married in January — have confirmed that they are expecting a baby.

“In response to a number of recent inquiries, Jamie Cullum and Sophie Dahl are delighted to confirm that Sophie is four months pregnant,” they said in a statement to the U.K.’s Telegraph newspaper. “There will be no further comment at this time.”

Baby-on-the-way will be the first for singer-songwriter Cullum, 31, and writer and former model Dahl, who will celebrate her 33rd birthday this week.

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Jason Webber / Splash News

Suri Cruise‘s fan following just got a little bigger: the cast and crew of The Romantics have been won over by her charm!

The 4-year-old — who was a regular on the set while Katie Holmes was filming — had no problem making friends, Mom’s costars reveal.

“We all shared her,” jokes Malin Akerman at the movie’s New York City premiere on Tuesday. “We drew, we played hide and seek, we played dogs and cats, ate cupcakes together.”

Actors Elijah Wood and Adam Brody were equally captured by Suri’s outgoing personality. “Adorable, super sweet,” Wood raves, with Brody adding, “She’s a charmer!”

And while some spent time playing with Suri — including producer Ron Stein who “brought her Silly Bandz … cars, dinosaurs, and princesses” — others like Rebecca Lawrence took the opportunity to sneak a peak at her sense of style.

“She’s very creative,” Lawrence says. “She had great little outfits, like she had this beautiful red coat that fit her perfectly, and it was so stylish. And I wanted one in my size.”

However, despite all of the attention Suri receives, actor Josh Duhamel insists she is no different from any other little girl. “She’s very sweet. She just wants to play, what is she? Four, five?” he explains. “They make her out to be this girl who’s much older than she is. But she’s a four or five year-old girl, she’s just fun.”

– Anya Leon with reporting by Jeffrey Slonim

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Marcia Cross

John Sciulli/WireImage

Marcia Cross takes pride in knowing her 3½-year-old twin girls Eden and Savannah have carefree lives – and she intends to keep it that way.

Even though the Desperate Housewives star's husband Tom Mahoney battled cancer over the last year, she says the couple never considered telling their daughters.

"There's no point in telling our kids," Cross, 48, tells PEOPLE on Friday at the "Stand Up to Cancer" telecast in Los Angeles. "They were so young and anything to them is normal, so they didn't know things weren't normal."

"They're enjoying their life," she says. "Daddy's fine. It's in the past. He has nothing to say."

While her husband's health has improved considerably, Cross says she is at a good place in her life. "My kids are great, work is great, my husband's really, really fantastic," she says. "I'm very blessed. All of my dreams have come true."

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Kourtney Kardashian

David Becker/WireImage

Their relationship problems are chronicled on TV prompting recent tabloid headlines scream that Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick have finally split. But nothing could be further from the truth.

"It's ridiculous," Kardashian said Saturday in Las Vegas at a party for her swimwear line, Beach Bunny Swimwear. "All the [rumors] you just have to laugh at."

For the record, she says things are going well for the couple.

"We've been working on our relationship and we're doing the best that we can," Kardashian, 31, said at the Hard Rock Hotel event. "We're in a really good place right now and taking it day by day and it's good."

While it's been well-documented in the media and on E!'s Keeping Up with The Kardashians that the couple has been through multiple rough patches, Kardashian says she and Disick, who have a 8-month-old month old Mason together, have been helped through counseling.

"I think [counseling] is really important and we always love going and feel so much better after," she said. "I think everyone should go. People are like, 'It's so expensive and this or that,' but that's more important than buying clothes or a handbag or shoes. It's your life."  

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