William Slade (valet) facts for kids

William Slade (who passed away on March 16, 1868) was an important person at the White House. He worked for President Abraham Lincoln from 1861 to 1868. At that time, his job was one of the highest positions an African American person could have in Washington D.C. He helped President Lincoln as a personal assistant, a trusted messenger, and a doorkeeper.

This is the only known picture of William Slade taken during his lifetime.

What Did William Slade Do?

Before working at the White House, William Slade ran a boardinghouse in Washington. He also worked as a messenger for the government's Treasury Department.

When Slade started working for President Lincoln, he became very trusted. Lincoln shared important secrets with him. A historian named John Washington wrote in 1942 that Slade was a "confidential messenger and confidant" to the President. This means Lincoln gave Slade private tasks to do. In return, Slade was very good at keeping secrets. He never talked about Lincoln's plans or business with anyone. After Slade passed away, his daughter even said that her father had destroyed some of Lincoln's old papers, showing how much he protected the President's privacy. Lincoln also practiced parts of his speeches with Slade to see how they sounded.

Slade's Community Work

William Slade was also a leader in his community. He was an elder at the 15th Street Presbyterian Church in Washington.

Slade was an activist, meaning he worked to bring about change. He encouraged President Lincoln to let African American men in Washington D.C. have a say in choosing the leaders for their military groups. He also worked hard to gain the right to vote for African Americans. After Lincoln's death, Slade even wrote letters to Frederick Douglass, a famous abolitionist, about the White House under President Johnson.

William Slade in Movies

In the 2012 movie Lincoln, which was directed by Steven Spielberg, the role of William Slade was played by actor Stephen McKinley Henderson.