7. Strange But True

7.1 Abraham Lincoln and John Kennedy

7.1.2. Lincoln Did NOT Have a Secretary Named Kennedy

7.1.2. Lincoln Did NOT Have a Secretary Named Kennedy

Many parallels have been noted between the deaths and lives of Presidents Lincoln and Kennedy and one of the most frequently stated is that Lincoln had a secretary named Kennedy and Kennedy had a secretary named Lincoln. It is often further asserted that each president's secretary advised him not to go to the place he was assassinated.

Lincoln had two secretaries, John J. Nicolay and John M. Hay. They are pictured in the book Dear Mr. Lincoln, Letters to the President, by Harold Holzer [DML ii]. There is no mention that I have found that either of these secretaries was concerned about Mr. Lincoln's safety.

I think I have tracked down the source of this error, which has been widely quoted, apparently since 1964. Author Jim Bishop researched a book in the fall of 1963 called A Day in the Life of President Kennedy. It was published in early 1964. At the end of the paperback edition of the book he listed several parallels between the lives and deaths of Presidents Lincoln and Kennedy. In particular, he noted that [DLPK 148]:
 

" ... When he became president, in 1861, one of the persons most worried about his safety was John Kennedy, Superintendent of Police in New York."

"... When he became president in 1961, one of the persons most worried about his safety was Evelyn Lincoln, his personal secretary."

While these statements may be factually correct, as early as July 21, 1964 (according to a document in my possession), a leaflet published by Abingdon Church in Glouscester, Virginia, reported that:
 

" ... Lincoln's secretary, Kennedy by name, advised him not to go to the theater. Kennedy's secretary, Lincoln by name, advised him not to go to Dallas. ... "

This error has survived more than 30 years! For example, the Tucker [Georgia] Times published a blurb in March 1997, under the title "The Kennedy-Lincoln Coincidence" which also claimed:
 

" ... Kennedy's secretary was named Lincoln. Lincoln's secretary was named Kennedy. Both secretaries advised their presidents not to go to the places where they were assassinated. ... "

A while back, a list of "Kennedy-Lincoln Parallels" also made the rounds on the Internet via e-mail. This list included the same error and was made part of several web sites and so the mistake continues to be propagated. However, do not be fooled,

Lincoln Did NOT Have a Secretary Named Kennedy.