Bizarre Coincidences That Still Give Us The Creeps

May 2024 ยท 2 minute read

Robert Todd Lincoln โ€” President Lincoln's oldest son โ€” was an iconic figure. There's been plenty written about his father, but far less about RTL himself. That's a shame, too, because his life is just as fascinating as his dad's. For instance, Robert Todd Lincoln was tragically up-close-and-personal for no fewer than three presidential assassinations.

The Blog of the James A. Garfield National Historic Site gives a great rundown on why Robert Todd always felt like he was cursed. Things started first with the infamous assassination of his own father. He was supposed to be at Ford's Theater the night John Wilkes Booth would pull the trigger, but told his parents he was going to turn in early instead. He was at the President's side when he died the next morning.

In 1881, the younger Lincoln accepted a position as Secretary of War for President James Garfield. Soon after, Garfield was shot at the Baltimore and Potomac train station in Washington DC on July 2, 1881. Lincoln was walking about 40 feet behind the President when it happened, and Garfield died from his injuries 80 days later. 

Lincoln gave up political service, and became president of the Pullman Palace Car Company. In 1901, he and his family decided visit Buffalo, New York's Pan-American Exposition. He got off the train and was handed a telegram: President William McKinley had just been shot โ€” at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo. 

There's a tenuous link to a fourth presidential death, too, as his final public appearance was at the dedication of the Lincoln Memorial. President Warren Harding conducted the ceremony... and he died 14 months later. Even if you don't count Harding, 3 presidents in 36 years would have the biggest skeptic thinking twice about who he's hanging out with.

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