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pangaia

(24,324 posts) Wed Jul 3, 2019, 12:40 PM Jul 2019

A true story about Abraham Lincoln's beard....

Abraham Lincoln statue

There is a remarkable double bronze statue in far Western New York that commemorates one of the most charming presidential stories of them all. In 1861, an 11-year-old girl from Westfield wrote to then-candidate Abraham Lincoln suggesting to him that if he grew a beard that maybe more women would get their husbands to vote for him. Somehow, the letter got to Lincoln and he answered her personally. After his victory, Lincoln’s inauguration train from Springfield, Ill., made a stop in tiny Westfield. The president came out of his private rail car to address the crowd. “Is there a Grace Bedell here,” he asked. Little Grace was there and slowly made her way to the president. As the crowd hushed, the tall Mr. Lincoln leaned down to show the little girl his newly grown whiskers. She touched them, and he kissed her on the cheek. And, as they say, the crowd went wild. A double statue in downtown Westfield now commemorates this cute presidential tale.

And a few more stories of U S Presidents in Up-State NY

https://www.newyorkupstate.com/news/2017/01/presidential_history_in_upstate_ny_11_who_left_footprints_all_over_the_state.html

7 replies

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A true story about Abraham Lincoln's beard.... (Original Post) pangaia Jul 2019 OP

That is a poignant story.. Here's the statues hlthe2b Jul 2019 #1

Thanks, I didn;t know how to post a photo.. pangaia Jul 2019 #5

This message was self-deleted by its author elocs Jul 2019 #2

I was born in NYC, grew up in NJ pangaia Jul 2019 #6

The moral of this story: COLGATE4 Jul 2019 #3

kid's name was Grace MadLinguist Jul 2019 #7

I heard the story that she had said his face was too thin. panader0 Jul 2019 #4

hlthe2b

(102,292 posts)

1. That is a poignant story.. Here's the statues

Reply to pangaia (Original post)

Wed Jul 3, 2019, 12:47 PM

Jul 2019

Last edited Wed Jul 3, 2019, 03:10 PM - Edit history (1)

pangaia

(24,324 posts)

5. Thanks, I didn;t know how to post a photo..

Reply to hlthe2b (Reply #1)

Wed Jul 3, 2019, 03:07 PM

Jul 2019

Response to pangaia (Original post)

elocs This message was self-deleted by its author.

pangaia

(24,324 posts)

6. I was born in NYC, grew up in NJ

Reply to elocs (Reply #2)

Wed Jul 3, 2019, 03:14 PM

Jul 2019

and have lived most of my life in Up-State NY,

There is a lot of history here most folks don;t know about.

Women's Suffrage,
Underground railroad
Frederick Douglass
Erie Canal
Fort Ticonderoga, etc etc

And of course more recently, the BATAVIA MUCKDOGS !!!

COLGATE4

(14,732 posts)

3. The moral of this story:

Reply to pangaia (Original post)

Wed Jul 3, 2019, 02:51 PM

Jul 2019

When little Clara grew up she entered Republican politics and promptly complained incessantly and vociferously to any and all who would listen how "President Lincoln not only kissed me voraciously just inches from my young mouth but be also deeply inhaled my hair." "I was petrified", little Clara reported. "I wanted to scream and yell but I was paralyzed in place by what that Monster had done to me". "He destroyed my innocence" said Clara. "I just wanted him to stop". There was hardly a dry eye in the crowd.

Upon hearing this all those Republican assembled to hear little Clara voted. as with a single voice to categorically reject Lincoln's bid for reelection by demonstrating a burning, righteous indignation which manifested itself in a motion to censure Lincoln, which received great applause and enthusiasm. The moral of this little tale is that 'in politics the old adage that "No good deed goes unpunished".is unassailably correct.

The end.

MadLinguist

(790 posts)

7. kid's name was Grace

Reply to COLGATE4 (Reply #3)

Wed Jul 3, 2019, 05:14 PM

Jul 2019

panader0

(25,816 posts)

4. I heard the story that she had said his face was too thin.

Reply to pangaia (Original post)

Wed Jul 3, 2019, 03:05 PM

Jul 2019

The beard helped hide that.

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