We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
History

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Did the Lincoln, Garfield, and McKinley Assassinations Have in Common?

Updated: May 16, 2024
Views: 2,053
References
Share

Robert Todd Lincoln, the eldest son of Abraham Lincoln, must have lived much of his life believing he was cursed. Not only did he rush to his father's deathbed after the president was shot at Ford's Theatre in 1865, but he was also present when President James Garfield was shot in the Baltimore & Potomac Railroad Station in 1881, and he arrived in Buffalo, New York, to meet President William McKinley in 1901, only to learn that McKinley had been shot moments before.

According to Robert Todd Lincoln's 1926 obituary in The New York Times, he later refused to go to any more events involving a U.S. president. "There is a certain fatality about presidential functions when I am present," the Times quoted Lincoln as saying.

Unlike Abraham Lincoln, neither Garfield nor McKinley died just after being shot. Both men were treated at a hospital and were expected to recover, only to later die from complications. That fact did little to ease Robert Lincoln's worry, though. When Theodore Roosevelt took office after McKinley's death, Lincoln wrote to him, saying: "I do not congratulate you, for I have seen too much of the seamy side of the Presidential Robe to view it as an enviable garment."

The unusual life of Robert Todd Lincoln:

  • In another bizarre coincidence, Edwin Booth, brother of assassin John Wilkes Booth, pulled Robert Todd Lincoln from a potentially deadly train track accident, in late 1864 or early 1865.

  • Mary Todd Lincoln never forgave her son Robert for having her committed to a mental hospital in 1875.

  • Robert Todd Lincoln served as Secretary of War from 1881 to 1885, and U.S. Minister to the United Kingdom from 1889 to 1893.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources
Discussion Comments
Share
https://direct.wisegeek.com/what-did-the-lincoln-garfield-and-mckinley-assassinations-have-in-common.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.