This nation has had many great presidents. One of them, no doubtly, was Abraham Lincoln.
On this day, in 1865, the kind, stove-pipe bearing man was assassinated in Ford's Theater by John Wilkes Booth. Even one-hundred-forty-six years later, nobody has forgotten his noble deeds, or what he did for this country.
Did you know that Honest Abe only wore his famous beard for precisely a single year out of his life? An eleven year old girl, Grace Bedell, took it upon herself to write the famous man this letter:
Hon A B Lincoln...
Dear Sir
My father has just home from the fair and brought home your picture and Mr. Hamlin's. I am a little girl only 11 years old, but want you should be President of the United States very much so I hope you wont think me very bold to write to such a great man as you are. Have you any little girls about as large as I am if so give them my love and tell her to write to me if you cannot answer this letter. I have got 4 brother's and part of them will vote for you any way and if you let your whiskers grow I will try and get the rest of them to vote for you you would look a great deal better for your face is so thin. All the ladies like whiskers and they would tease their husband's to vote for you and then you would be President. My father is going to vote for you and if I was a man I would vote for you to but I will try to get every one to vote for you that I can I think that rail fence around your picture makes it look very pretty I have got a little baby sister she is nine weeks old and is just as cunning as can be. When you direct your letter direct to Grace Bedell Westfield Chatauque County New York
I must not write any more answer this letter right off Good bye
Grace Bedell
To which he shortly responded to with:
Miss Grace Bedell My dear little Miss Your very agreeable letter of the 15th is received - I regret the necessity of saying I have no daughters - I have three sons - one seventeen, one nine, and one seven years of age - They, with their mother, constitute my whole family - As to the whiskers, having never worn any, do you not think people would call it a piece of silly affection if I were to begin it now?
Your very sincere well wisher
A. Lincoln
And for the next year, he wore these whiskers and became the sixteenth president of the United States of America.
