A presidential tale rarely told

0 Comments | Gazette, The (Colorado Springs), Jun 3, 2008 | by BILL REED

Cooper has gotten to know Hayes-Davis through his long study of Jefferson Davis and is familiar with his longing to commemorate his ancestor. "And if Davis was my direct ancestor I might feel that way, too," Cooper said.

Yet, he urges caution when it comes to celebrating a man who defended slavery. Hayes-Davis agrees, but he wants to concentrate on Davis' accomplishments rather than his shortcomings.

Hayes-Davis wants people to recognize Davis as a strong and important leader, who led a formidable resistance despite limited resources. He subscribes to the "Lost Cause" ideology of defending states' rights rather than slavery, per se. And above all, he doesn't want his ancestor to be just a villainous footnote in the story of Lincoln's heroism.

So his quest on behalf of Jefferson Davis goes on, naysayers be damned. And he's proud to mark Davis' 200th birthday.

"I'm never ashamed of what I am," he said.