A Eulogy for Mr. Lincoln
Michael Krebs as Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address, March, 2015. The event sponsored by the Lincoln Group of Washington D.C., the National Archives and National Parks Service. (Photo from the With Lincoln Productions Website)
“I want it said of me by those who knew me best, that I always plucked a thistle and planted a flower where I thought a flower would grow.” - Abraham Lincoln
It was on Sunday evening that I learned of the passing of Michael Krebs. In the spirit of transparency and truthfulness, Michael and I were not close. We only met a handful of times over the course of several years. He would not have said that we were friends, it’s more likely that he may not have remembered me at all. However, the mark that he left on my life is so firmly rooted, that I feel that it would be unjust to not share a few of the stories of my time in the company of Mr. Lincoln.
Michael began portraying President Abraham Lincoln in 1994. Since that time, countless hundreds of thousands upon thousands of children and adults were gifted the experience of being in the presence of one of the most beloved presidents in American History. For millions more, he was seen as President Lincoln in varying televised appearances such as NBC’s Timeless, The History Channel's Conspiracy Lincoln Assassination or the 2014 film, Field of Lost Souls. My first introduction to Michael was in the trailer for the book release of Seth Grahame-Smith's Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. In the video, President Lincoln is quietly writing in his study when he is beset upon by a ravenous vampire to which the President expeditiously disposes.
Michael Krebs as Abraham Lincoln in the trailer for Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. Watch the trailer by clicking here.
(Photo from the With Lincoln Productions Website)
Whether disposing of vampires or performing for the Library of Congress, to those that had the opportunity to see Michael Krebs can firmly say they they’ve been in the presence of Lincoln. Michael stood 6’4” without his boots, the same as Lincoln. They shared the same build, similar face structures. If you saw him, you saw Lincoln. I have often wondered how people that portray historical figures find themselves doing so. Is it something that they were born to do or something that they found themselves falling into. I can’t personally attest to how Michael found himself in the position of playing Lincoln; but in my opinion, he was born to play the part.
My first-time meeting Michael was at a performer showcase in Chicago many years ago. Like Michael, we were both there to attract new potential clients for performances at schools, libraries, museums and such. The first time I saw him, I was in awe. Shock, really. I don’t think you were ever quite prepared the first time you met Michael as President Lincoln. That is how much he looked and carried himself as the former President. It took several looks and glances before I felt comfortable enough approaching him. Like many things my fears were unfounded. This man (whether Michael or Lincoln) was no one to be feared. Warmth and compassion seemed to emanate from him. As it was a busy showcase he never came out of character in our first meeting. As I left his booth, I was in awe of the experience that I had never thought I would have. I just met President Abraham Lincoln.
Before I move on, I must share a quick moment that happened at the conclusion of this showcase where we first met. The entire time that I was at that first showcase, anytime I saw Michael he was always both in costume and character. However, understandably, Michael did not wear his costume 24/7. So imagine my mental shock while loading out my materials when I look up and see President Lincoln in tight jeans and a Gettysburg t-shirt. Seeing Lincoln in jeans was a shock in itself and the t-shirt seemed so on brand that it was like a disguise that a re-incarnated President Lincoln would wear to not so subtly blend in with the modern public.
Michael Krebs at Civil War Symposium, Cantigny First Division Museum (Photo from the With Lincoln Productions Website)
It was a year or two later when we both found ourselves at another showcase in Indianapolis. Unlike our first showcase, this showcase was almost a ghost town. We were told that there would be similar numbers if not more than the showcase in Chicago. For whatever reason, this was not the case. In total there might have been about twenty people in attendance throughout the course of the entire day. Although less than desired, this allowed us performers and presenters the opportunity to meet and spend time with one another without the pressure of having to be in presentation mode. This was when I got to know Michael better. The weight of the presidency slid away revealing the funny, caring person inside.
It was at this moment of removed veils, when I experienced one of, if not the most bizarre juxtapositions in my life. Imagine if you will, President Abraham Lincoln performing the stand up routines of Jim Gaffigan flawlessly. Beat for beat. Impeccable timing. That’s what I experienced that day. It might have been Michael who had been a fan, but in that moment, it was President Lincoln talking about Hot Pockets. Even now, years later, it makes me smile. It was just so bizarre.
Later that day, all the performers decided to watch each other for emotional support, as at that point there was only about five people in attendance. There weren’t enough chairs for everyone. Being younger and accustomed to sitting on the ground in weird positions (part of the job in puppetry), I sat at the end of a row of a few chairs. Michael sat next to me. This moment is one that I will never forget.
There is a line from an episode of The Office that I often adapt to describe this moment. In the episode, Jim Halper (John Krasinski) hires a Ben Franklin impersonator to come to the office. In which Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson) comments “That is not the real Ben Franklin. I'm 99% sure.” That one percent, however, is what is important.
Sitting there on the floor at the end of a very long drawn out day, I was 99% sure that I was not sitting next to the real President Lincoln. It couldn’t be the real president. This was a man name Michael Krebs who looked a lot like President Lincoln. He might have even sounded a lot like President Lincoln. He might have carried himself a lot like that president, but at the end of the day was not the actual President Lincoln. Or was he? Just like it was on that day, there will always be a place in my heart where childhood innocence forever resides where I will remember sitting on the ground and looking up at the President beside me and being in complete awe. I sat next to Abraham Lincoln and it was awesome.
Michael Krebs and Debra Miller. Capital City Bicentennial Celebration at The Old State Capitol, Springfield, Illinois July 3, 2009. Photographic Artist Steve Ingram used skills in tintype to create this photograph. Visit Steve's web site at www.tintypist.com. (Photo from the With Lincoln Productions Website)
The last time I saw Michael was a rushed day. Added responsibilities meant that I had less time to truly enjoy showcases. I had performers coming in from out of state and I needed to make sure that their performance went great and that I got them back on the road so they could get to their next location. However, in all the hustle and bustle, I was able to capture a moment with my puppeteers and Michael. He was so kind to stop for a picture. For years, I had told generations of puppeteers about Michael and they were just as eager to meet him as I was to see him again.
Rachel Bailey (left), Michael Krebs as Abraham Lincoln, and Rachel Cobbs (right). Bailey and Cobbs are dress in their costumes for the Madcap Puppets production of Pinocchio. Picture taken in Chicago, IL.
There are others that knew Michael better. Others that knew the man behind the President. In this moment, I pray for them to find the comfort that they need. If Michael made this large of an impact in my life in just a few random meetings, I can’t imagine the deficit that they must be feeling now. To them, I leave them with a quote from the president that Michael so faithfully portrayed for so many years: “I'm a success today because I had a friend who believed in me and I didn't have the heart to let him down.”
Rest in Peace, Mr. Lincoln. Rest in Peace, Michael.
Michael Krebs and Debra Miller at McCormick Gardens. Debra Ann Miller & Michael Krebs in Gardens of Robert R. McCormick Museum at Cantigny, Illinois 2008. photo by Jack Bannister. (Photo from the With Lincoln Productions Website)
To learn more about Michael Krebs and his life portraying President Abraham Lincoln, I recommend checking out his website: With Lincoln Productions (www.abrahamlincolnperformance.com)