The Trembling Hand That Signed for Millions

On January 1, 1863, Abraham Lincoln sat down to sign the Emancipation Proclamation. His right hand was shaking — not from doubt, but from exhaustion after three hours of greeting visitors at a New Year's reception. He paused, set the pen down, and flexed his fingers. "If my name ever goes into history," he said, "it will be for this act, and my whole soul is in it.…