# Lincoln and Kennedy coincidences **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 21, 2001, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lincoln-and-kennedy-coincidences/58864 "2001-03-21T15:04:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cheese\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ad7895/32.png) [@Cheese\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheese_Head)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lincoln-and-kennedy-coincidences/58864/1 "2001-03-21T15:04:45Z")
I got this in an email. I tried going to the web page given, but it was down. I will add one more: -both were assinated during the 60’s decade. Coincidence or Conspiracy? - The names Lincoln and Kennedy each contain seven letters. - Both were particularly concerned with civil rights. - Both wives lost children while in the White House. - Both Presidents were shot on a Friday. - Both Presidents were shot in the head. - Lincoln’s secretary was named Kennedy. - Kennedy’s secretary was named Lincoln. - Both were assassinated by Southerners. - Both were succeeded by Southerners… For more baffling presidential facts, go to: [http://www.AmericanSingles.com/HotPotato](http://www.AmericanSingles.com/HotPotato) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lincoln-and-kennedy-coincidences/58864/2 "2001-03-21T15:10:20Z")
This list doesn’t begin to scratch the surface. I’ve seen much more detailed lists that point out how Lincoln and Kennedy were elected exactly 100 years apart to Congress, how there are similar such “exactly 100 years apart” coincidences between Andrew Johnson and Lyndon Johnson, and Between Oswald and Boothe. Or about how “each president, while in his thirties, married a socially prominent 24-year-old woman who spoke fluent French.” That sort of thing. Not that I think it means anything, but it is an interesting exercise. I know more than I did about either president because I read the lists, and the coincidences stick in my mind. ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lincoln-and-kennedy-coincidences/58864/3 "2001-03-21T15:25:11Z")
The one I most recall made endless comparisons between the two and ended (not _too_ tastefully) by saying something like: “Lincoln was last in Maryland a week before he died and Kennedy was last in Marilyn…” ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lincoln-and-kennedy-coincidences/58864/4 "2001-03-21T16:02:26Z")
[Linkin’ Kennedy](http://www.snopes2.com/spoons/fracture/linckenn.htm), courtesy of snopes. And don’t forget: both Lincoln and Kennedy appear on coins! ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2001, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lincoln-and-kennedy-coincidences/58864/5 "2001-03-21T16:47:09Z")
Then again, we can always compare the assassinations of William McKinley and James Garfield: [li] Both were Republicans, born and raised in Ohio.[/li][li] Both have eight letters in their last name.[/li][li] Like Lincoln and Kennedy, they both were elected on years ending with zero (1880 and 1900).[/li][li] Both had Vice Presidents from New York City who wore mustaches.[/li][li] Both were slain during the first September of their respective terms by assassins Charles Guiteau and Leon Czolgosz, who had foreign sounding names.[/li] Courtesy of [Math Mistakes - Glossary: Conspiratorial Coincidence](http://xocxoc.home.att.net/math/glossary1.htm).