Now scrolling: The Gettysburg Address

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Kennedy was shot in a Lincoln


Happy Thanksgiving. Lincoln established Thanksgiving as a national holiday in a special proclamation.

This year it falls on the exact day Kennedy was assassinated, giving us all the more reason to explore the Kennedy-Lincoln connection. So, as promised, here’s the Kennedy-Lincoln blog celebrating the many and strange similarities between the two presidents and all things surrounding them. I’ll start with the numbers because I think they’re the coolest:

Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846. John F. Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946.

Lincoln failed to win the Vice Presidential nomination in 1856. Kennedy failed to win the Vice Presidential nomination in 1956.
Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860. John F. Kennedy was elected President in 1960. Lincoln defeated Stephen Douglas who was born in 1813. Kennedy defeated Richard Nixon who was born in 1913.
Lincoln's Vice President, Andrew Johnson, was born in 1808 and served in the House of Representatives in 1847. Kennedy's Vice President, Lyndon Johnson, was born 1908 and served in the House of Representatives in 1947.

Oswald was born in 1939. If you're going to say that Booth was born in 1838 – you’re right and you’re no fun.

And here’s some name stuff: The names Lincoln and Kennedy each contain seven letters.

Both assassins were known by their three names. Both names comprise fifteen letters.

Lincoln was shot at Ford’s theatre. Kennedy was shot in a Lincoln made by Ford.

Booth ran from a theater and was caught in a warehouse. Oswald ran from a warehouse and was caught in a theater.

Kennedy had a secretary named Lincoln who warned him not to go to Dallas. Lincoln had a secretary named John who warned him – you guessed it – not to go to Ford’s Theatre.
Okay, there's more:
Both presidents were shot in the back of the head, in the company of their wives and another couple, on a Friday.

Lyndon Johnson had a rare pancreatic condition which was mistaken for cancer. Andrew Johnson had the same pancreatic disorder. (I can't prove this one but I know I read it somewhere. Can someone help me with this?)

And here's one more thing:
Lincoln was involved in a civil war between the north and the south in America. Kennedy had plans to withdraw American troops from yet another war between the north and the south – in Vietnam.

Several websites mention that Lincoln was in Monroe, Maryland two weeks before his assassination, and Kennedy was with Marilyn Monroe two weeks before his death. But not many people know that Marilyn Monroe was not only Kennedy’s mistress, she was an avid Lincoln fan.

Had enough yet? Does evil repeat every one hundred years?

For more coincidences than you ever wanted to know, check into the following websites: Lincoln-Kennedy Coincidences ; The Kennedy-Lincoln Connection ; Linkin' Kennedy.

Friday, November 2, 2007

Happy Veterans' Day from LincolnFreak

After all, Lincoln was a veteran of two wars. He was Captain of Volunteers in the Black-Hawk War for thirty days, then re-enlisted two more times in other units.

In the Civil War, he was Commander-in-Chief of the Army of the Republic, and the only president to come under fire in active battle at Fort Stevens.

He was so fond of visiting the soldiers' home that a kidnapping plot was designed to take place there. When it failed to materialize, Lincoln became one of the final casualties of the Civil War at Ford's Theatre.

The Gettysburg Address, his most famous speech, was as much about the common soldier as it was about the Nation's destiny.

Lincoln once said: "This extraordinary war in which we are engaged falls heavily upon all classes of people, but the most heavily upon the soldier. For it has been said, all that a man hath will he give for his life; and while all contribute of their substance the soldier puts his life at stake, and often yields it up in his country’s cause. The highest merit, then, is due to the soldier."

So if you're planning to visit the war memorials in Washington on November 11th, don't forget to stop by the Lincoln Memorial and say hi to an old veteran.