Abraham Lincoln is best remembered for guiding the United States through a turbulent era and championing the abolition of slavery. Beyond politics, he pursued a range of interests—from farming and carpentry to animal companionship and invention—and he earned a reputation for a sharp, good-humored wit.
Lincoln’s Quick Wits in the Face of Satire
Physically imposing at 6 feet 4 inches with notably large feet, Lincoln often faced jibes about his appearance from rivals. In 1860, The Houston Telegraph described him as possessing an “ungainly mass of legs, arms, and hatchet face.” The Southern Confederacy even mocked his nose as “the snout of a half-starved Illinois pig.” Yet he handled such taunts with a light touch, occasionally returning fire with humor. When called a “self-made man,” he quipped, “Well, all I’ve got to say is that it was a damned bad job.” And when Stephen Douglas labeled him “two-faced” in debate, Lincoln answered, “If I had another face, do you think I’d wear this one?”
Grace Bedell’s Influence: The Beard Saga
The fashion of Lincoln’s beard began with a young admirer. An 11-year-old girl named Grace Bedell urged him to grow whiskers, noting that a fuller face would help him win more votes. Lincoln’s reply suggested he considered the suggestion, questioning whether people might view it as “a piece of silly affection.” He eventually grew a beard after winning the presidency, and he even thanked Grace when they met in New York, saying, “I let these whiskers grow for you, Grace.”
Tabby the Cat and Dining Room Etiquette
A tender animal ally in the White House, Lincoln kept dogs and cats, while Tad and Willie tended to rabbits, turkeys, horses, and goats. The family’s feline favorite, Tabby, enjoyed a seat at the dining table during a formal meal, a moment Mary Todd Lincoln found humiliating to witness for their guests. Lincoln, in his characteristic humor, defended Tabby, remarking that if the gold fork was good enough for President Buchanan, it was good enough for Tabby. Lincoln also admired his other cat, Dixie, claiming she could be “smarter than my whole Cabinet!”
Top Hat as a Secret Archive
The tall stovepipe hat wasn’t just a signature style; Lincoln used it as a convenient repository for papers. He would pull out letters and speeches from inside the hat during or after public addresses, and he sometimes lobbed documents down in front of generals in moments of anger. The hat’s enduring legacy is said to have inspired the expression “keep it under your hat,” a nod to his habit of storing secrets there. The Smithsonian now safeguards the final hat he wore.
A Patent That Couldn’t Take Off
In May 1849, Lincoln became the only U.S. president to be granted a patent, for an “adjustable buoyant air chamber” designed to aid boats in navigating shallow waters. The concept arose from his experiences as a ferryman who faced sandbars and shoals on the Mississippi River. Although he even crafted the patent model himself and sketched how it could function, the device proved impractical due to the severe force required to operate the chambers. Despite the misfire, Lincoln’s patent remains a unique milestone in presidential history.
