President : One former governor admits omission , one does not . Ca n't understand Civil War without understanding of slavery , president said . `` I think it 's just a reminder that when we talk about issues like slavery that are so fraught with pain and emotion , that we 'd better do so thinking through how this is going to affect a lot of people , and their sense of whether they 're part of a commonwealth or part of our broader society . '' Former governor criticized for omitting slavery in 1861 . Gov . Bob McDonnell declared April as Confederate History Month .
President : One former governor admits omission , one does not . Ca n't understand Civil War without understanding of slavery , president said . Former governor criticized for omitting slavery in 1861 . Gov . Bob McDonnell declared April as Confederate History Month .