Second Inaugural Mr. Lincoln’s Second Inauguration on March 4, 1865 was drizzling at first, but a burst of sun during his oath of office was interpreted by Mr. Lincoln as a good omen. Lincoln aide John Nicolay later wrote in a letter to his fiancée: “The ceremonies passed off yesterday in as…” Abraham Lincoln’s White […]

Telegraph Office In March 1862 Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton insisted in centralizing all telegraph communication for the war at the War Department’s old library next to his office. The President therefore had to go to the… Abraham Lincoln’s White House >

Mrs. Lincoln’s Bedroom Mrs. Lincoln’s bedroom was the scene of both happy and intensely sad events, many of which were recorded by Elizabeth Keckley, who was hired as Mrs. Lincoln’s dressmaker after she had interviewed several others. Mrs. Keckley remembered… Abraham Lincoln’s White House >

Last Public Address Mr. Lincoln delivered few formal speeches as President. Besides the occasional “serenade” after a political or military victory or remarks to a visiting group, almost none were actually made at the White House. A notable exception occurred on… Abraham Lincoln’s White House >

Reception Room All manner of Americans occupied the reception room while they waited to see the President. One day when the reception room was crowded with folks waiting to see Mr. Lincoln, Senator Henry Wilson protested: “Mr. President, you are too…” Abraham Lincoln’s White House >

John Sherman (1823-1900) John Sherman took an active interest in military mobilization at the beginning of the Civil War – even serving as a military aide to General Robert Patterson and personally raising two regiments in Ohio. Sherman and his brother William T. Sherman had a… Abraham Lincoln’s White House >

Acceptance of Renomination There are two versions of what President Lincoln said in response to the delegation from the Union National Convention when they came to the White House on June 9, 1864. One was published in the New York Tribune… Abraham Lincoln’s White House >

James S. Wadsworth (1807-1864) James S. Wadsworth, Union General, was an unsuccessful Republican candidate for Governor of New York State in 1862. Though on active service with the army, the wealthy landowner was nominated as the candidate of Radical Republicans over the objections of… Abraham Lincoln’s White House >

Francis P. Blair, Sr. (1791-1876) The Blair family had particularly strong links in the key border states. Francis Blair had grown up in Kentucky—where his children were born before he moved the family to Washington, D.C. and built a home in… Abraham Lincoln’s White House >

John Todd Stuart (1807-1885) John Todd Stuart was known as “Jerry Sly.” A favorite cousin of Mary Todd Lincoln and as a member of Congress after his election in 1862 over Republican Leonard Swett, he was a frequent visitor at the White House even though he was… Abraham Lincoln’s White House >