The first Presidential inauguration to be photographed was James Buchanan’s, seen here from March 4, 1857. Two months prior to his inauguration, Buchanan had stayed at the luxurious National Hotel in Washington, DC, where he caught what medical experts now believe to have been dysentery, caused by the hotel’s primitive sewage system. Buchanan was still dealing with the effects of dysentery, including diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and dehydration during his inaugural address, in which a doctor was by his side for the duration of his speech in case an emergency should arise.
As a side note, James Buchanan is considered by many historians as the worst president in US history, as he appeared unable to grasp (or to care about) the enormity of America’s division over slavery, ignoring the issue and letting it fester in the years leading up to the Civil War.
There is a debate among historians as to when the wink emoticon was first used. A transcript of a speech given by Abraham Lincoln appeared in the August 7, 1862 publication of the New York Times, containing what appears to be a winky face following a description of the audience’s reaction to a certain moment during the speech. Some historians believe the typesetter added a winky face to embellish the audience’s reaction, which was one of laughter and applause. Others claim it is a typo. Still, others say it is just grammar characteristics of that time period.
October 15, 1860 marks the beginning of Abraham Lincoln growing his beard. His facial hair has a story just as interesting as the man himself.
During Lincoln’s inaugural journey from his home state of Illinois to Washington DC, one of his stops was in Westfield, NY. Getting off the train, he spoke with some of the residents about the girl from that town who had urged him to grow his beard and said if she was present, he would like to meet her. Sure enough, she was. Her father brought her over to Lincoln, who bent down to kiss Grace’s cheek and talked with her for a few minutes before going on his way.
Below is a photo of Grace Bedell in her teenage years, along with three of Lincoln. The first photo of Lincoln was taken August 13, 1860, the last photo of him without a beard. The second photo was taken November 25, 1860, a little over one month after receiving Grace’s letter. The third photo was taken February 9, 1861, ten days before meeting Grace in Westfield, NY. Statues were erected in Westfield in 1999 to commemorate the meeting of Lincoln and Bedell.
The Secret Service is known for protecting the President of the United States, but that wasn’t the reason the agency was created. By 1865, one third of all currency in circulation was counterfeit. The Secret Service was created specifically to suppress this problem. The legislation creating the agency was on Abraham Lincoln’s desk the night he was assassinated.
The Secret Service was created on July 5, 1865. The agency not only investigated counterfeiting but other crimes as well including murder, bank robberies, illegal gambling, etc. With the assassination of Presidents James Garfield in 1881 and William McKinley in 1901, the Secret Service’s responsibilities then began including protecting the President of the United States.
The first Secret Service agent killed in the line of duty was William Craig, who was traveling with and protecting President Theodore Roosevelt in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. A speeding trolley slammed into the open horse carriage carrying the two men on September 3, 1902. Roosevelt received only minor cuts and bruises, but Craig was killed. Roosevelt would later say of Craig, “The man who was killed was one of whom I was fond and whom I greatly prized for his loyalty and faithfulness.”
During Abraham Lincoln’s Senate campaign in 1858, he spoke privately with a reporter from The Atlantic. Lincoln spoke of how he didn’t think he would win this race, although his wife, Mary Todd, was convinced he would someday become President.
The reporter, years later, recalled what happened next: “Those last words he followed with a roar of laughter, with his arms around his knees, and shaking all over with mirth at his wife’s ambition. “Just think”, he exclaimed, “of such a sucker as me as President!”
The photo of Lincoln below was taken May 7, 1858, three months prior to the beginning of the Senate race.
Thousands came out in New York to view Abraham Lincoln’s funeral procession as it went down Broadway in April, 1865. Little did the photographer know at the time that he was taking a very special picture.
Take a look at the two children circled in this photo. The taller child is future president Theodore Roosevelt, only 7 years old at the time, watching the procession from his grandfather’s mansion. His 5-year-old brother, Elliott, is at his side. Theodore’s friend and family neighbor, 3-year-old Edith Carow (who would become Theodore’s second wife in 1886), was also in the mansion at the time. Many years later, Edith recalled going over to the window to watch the procession with Theodore and Elliott but began crying when she saw all the black drapings used for the sorrowful event.
She recalled what Theodore and Elliott did next. “They didn’t like me crying. They took me and locked me in a back room.”
The two boys then went back to the window to continue watching the procession.
Seven-year old Theodore would become President 36 years later in 1901.
