You hold Trump and Pence and all those politicians with who you disagree to their "opinions of the past".  

Why should  Saint Lincoln and Saint RFK be held to a lesser standard?

I was a Gene McCarthy door-to-door activist when RFK decided to be opportunistic during the Viet Nam war and run for President.

Assassination did not confer sainthood or even omniscience on him or on Lincoln.  

Both Lincoln and RFK chose political expediency when necessary.  Winners in politics do so regularly!  

Lincoln sat in the White House and handed out patronage--primarily Postal positions.  He also de-fanged many of his Presidential opponents with Cabinet positions--and even seats on the Supreme Court.

Sainthood came much later!