What comes to mind when one thinks of Abraham Lincoln? Well if you imagined the sixteenth President with a beard, think again. Lincoln went clean-shaven for most of his life despite urgings from his peers. Fellow Republicans feared that Lincoln wouldn’t get votes due to his tall and lanky appearance. A beard, they assumed, would help solidify Lincoln’s image as a strong candidate.
But one letter from a Gutsy Girl in 1860 seemed to change all that. Grace Bedell, age 11, was the daughter of a Republican stove maker but her brothers favored the Democratic Party and often poked fun at Lincoln and his appearance. Grace took matters into her own hands and personally wrote the then congressman a letter.
In the letter Grace explained, “All the ladies like whiskers and they would tease their husband's to vote for you and then you would be President. My father is a going to vote for you and if I was a man I would vote for you too but I will try and get every one to vote for you that I can.”
Soon after, Lincoln grew a beard, became the President we see in history books today, and worked to end slavery in this country. Was it all because of a bold little girl? We’ll let you be the judge…
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