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+--- Thread: Robert Todd Lincoln --The vitals (/thread-3174.html)
Robert Todd Lincoln --The vitals - smbovard - 11-04-2016 07:17 PM
Robert doesn't much resemble his father. Looks like he takes after his mother's side of the family.
Anyone know how tall he was?
I've googled for the information and don't find any information on his height / weight. From photographs he looks to be a man of average height for the time --- certainly under 6 feet tall. A little bit on the chunky side in his later years.
RE: Robert Todd Lincoln --The vitals - ReignetteC - 11-04-2016 09:43 PM
In an endnote to "Giant in the Shadows," Jason Emerson notes RTL's height as follows: "Robert's passport application from May 18, 1872, describes him as 5 feet 9½ inches tall with gray eyes and brown hair."
RE: Robert Todd Lincoln --The vitals - RJNorton - 11-05-2016 01:03 PM
(11-04-2016 07:17 PM)smbovard Wrote: A little bit on the chunky side in his later years.
Steve, I agree, but still much less than his golfing friend, President Taft. Here he is playing golf (3rd person from left) with Taft (far left).
![[Image: robert22.jpg]](http://rogerjnorton.com/photos/robert22.jpg)
RE: Robert Todd Lincoln --The vitals - LincolnMan - 11-05-2016 01:31 PM
Makes me wonder if he ever heard: "You don't look like your father."
That could have been frustrating...
RE: Robert Todd Lincoln --The vitals - Wild Bill - 11-05-2016 03:54 PM
Maybe he looked more like a Todd?
RE: Robert Todd Lincoln --The vitals - smbovard - 11-05-2016 08:38 PM
(11-04-2016 09:43 PM)ReignetteC Wrote: In an endnote to "Giant in the Shadows," Jason Emerson notes RTL's height as follows: "Robert's passport application from May 18, 1872, describes him as 5 feet 9½ inches tall with gray eyes and brown hair."
Thanks for sharing this. Robert was a very complex man. There seemed to be a real psychological distance between him and both of his parents. It's almost like he was trying to get away from them all of this life. I thought it was interesting that he made sure that he wouldn't be buried in Springfield (opting for Arlington instead).
(11-05-2016 01:03 PM)RJNorton Wrote:(11-04-2016 07:17 PM)smbovard Wrote: A little bit on the chunky side in his later years.
Steve, I agree, but still much less than his golfing friend, President Taft. Here he is playing golf (3rd person from left) with Taft (far left).
It must have been quite a workout for Bill Taft to walk 18 holes in those days before golf carts.
RE: Robert Todd Lincoln --The vitals - RJNorton - 11-06-2016 05:09 AM
(11-05-2016 03:54 PM)Wild Bill Wrote: Maybe he looked more like a Todd?
Agreed. I have read several authors' view that Robert took more after the Todd line than the Lincoln line. (Please don't ask which authors as I do not remember; I just know I have read this opinion more than once.)
RE: Robert Todd Lincoln --The vitals - LincolnMan - 11-06-2016 06:52 AM
(11-05-2016 05:38 PM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:(11-05-2016 01:31 PM)LincolnMan Wrote: Makes me wonder if he ever heard: "You don't look like your father."To many, Abraham Lincoln wasn't a beauty icon. I think this more frustrating if your father were...ugh, who is currently considered good-looking? (My mother would always think pf Clark Gable.) I think more frustrating possibly would have been "You aren't like your father".
That could have been frustrating...
Eva: you're right- that would've been worse. I bet he heard it a lot.
RE: Robert Todd Lincoln --The vitals - HerbS - 11-06-2016 11:27 AM
Sometimes,it is good to not look like your father!
RE: Robert Todd Lincoln --The vitals - STS Lincolnite - 11-09-2016 08:31 AM
(11-05-2016 08:38 PM)smbovard Wrote: I thought it was interesting that he made sure that he wouldn't be buried in Springfield (opting for Arlington instead).
It had always been my understanding that Robert Lincoln in fact wanted to be buried in Springfield next to his father. But, that after his death, Robert's wife Mary nixed the idea and had him buried at Arlington instead - making a comment along the lines of how Robert had lived his life in the shadow of his father and that he didn't need to be in his father's shadow in death as well.
RE: Robert Todd Lincoln --The vitals - RJNorton - 11-09-2016 09:39 AM
(11-09-2016 08:31 AM)STS Lincolnite Wrote: It had always been my understanding that Robert Lincoln in fact wanted to be buried in Springfield next to his father.
Scott, that is what I have read, also.
RE: Robert Todd Lincoln --The vitals - smbovard - 11-09-2016 10:22 PM
(11-09-2016 08:31 AM)STS Lincolnite Wrote:(11-05-2016 08:38 PM)smbovard Wrote: I thought it was interesting that he made sure that he wouldn't be buried in Springfield (opting for Arlington instead).
It had always been my understanding that Robert Lincoln in fact wanted to be buried in Springfield next to his father. But, that after his death, Robert's wife Mary nixed the idea and had him buried at Arlington instead - making a comment along the lines of how Robert had lived his life in the shadow of his father and that he didn't need to be in his father's shadow in death as well.
You're quite right. Robert expressed a desire to be buried in Springfield. I am not sure now where I got the idea that he didn't. I went looking around for information and there is also quite a bit out there that would indicate that Robert was closer to his father than Steven Spielberg would have us believe.
RE: Robert Todd Lincoln --The vitals - Jim Garrett - 11-22-2016 08:08 PM
BTW, the picture of RTL golfing with WHT, my grandfather was President Taft's caddy at the Chevy Chase Club.
RE: Robert Todd Lincoln --The vitals - Thomas Kearney - 11-23-2016 11:49 AM
(11-22-2016 08:08 PM)Jim Garrett Wrote: BTW, the picture of RTL golfing with WHT, my grandfather was President Taft's caddy at the Chevy Chase Club.
I thought he swore off hanging out with presidents after McKinley's assassination.
RE: Robert Todd Lincoln --The vitals - J. Beckert - 11-23-2016 09:25 PM
(11-22-2016 08:08 PM)Jim Garrett Wrote: BTW, the picture of RTL golfing with WHT, my grandfather was President Taft's caddy at the Chevy Chase Club.
You sure have a rich family history, Jim. Did I hear there's a few CSA Generals in there, too?
I think the picture of RTL and Taft was taken at the Ekwanok Golf Club in Manchester, Vt. on one of Taft's visits to Hildene. RTL was President of the club. It's still there on the main drag on Rt. 7A.