- This topic has 1 voice and 1 reply.
-
Posts
-
Robt-T-Lincoln-ca-1865 [Public domain], by Brady National Photographic Art Gallery (Washington, D.C.), photographer.I came across the interesting historical fact today that Robert Todd Lincoln, son of Abraham Lincoln, was present (or very close to) three assassinated U.S. presidents: his father (1865), James Garfield (1881), and William McKinley (1901). I am guessing that he is the only such figure from history to hold that distinction.I also read that his life was once saved by Edwin Booth, the brother of his father's assassin, in 1863 or 1864. In 1909, Lincoln recounted the incident at a train station:The incident occurred while a group of passengers were late at night purchasing their sleeping car places from the conductor who stood on the station platform at the entrance of the car. The platform was about the height of the car floor, and there was of course a narrow space between the platform and the car body. There was some crowding, and I happened to be pressed by it against the car body while waiting my turn. In this situation the train began to move, and by the motion I was twisted off my feet, and had dropped somewhat, with feet downward, into the open space, and was personally helpless, when my coat collar was vigorously seized and I was quickly pulled up and out to a secure footing on the platform. Upon turning to thank my rescuer I saw it was Edwin Booth, whose face was of course well known to me, and I expressed my gratitude to him, and in doing so, called him by name.
(I was confused why Lincoln would have recognized Edwin Booth's face, so I did some digging and found that this must have been the case because of Booth's popularity as an actor in those years).One last thing of interest in regard to Robert Todd Lincoln is that after he was appointed to Gen. Grant's staff at the end of the war, he was present at the surrender of General Lee at Appomattox. The man was quite a witness to history.
