Lincoln Discussion Symposium

(08-01-2014 01:20 PM)RJNorton Wrote: [ -> ]Brilliant, Anita! It is indeed Helen Taft.

You win Inaugural tickets for 2017.

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Roger, what a wonderful prize. I have plenty of time to shop for my gown assuming it includes admission to the Ball.

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Toia, the ring is indeed at Sagamore Hill. I was fortunate to live near by as a youngster and visited many times.

[attachment=821]

Lincoln Ring
Source: Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
"John Hay, T R’s Secretary of State from 1901 to 1905 and Abraham Lincoln’s personal secretary from 1861 to 1865, gave this ring containing Lincoln’s hair to President Roosevelt. T R wore the ring on the day he was inaugurated on March 4, 1905 for his second term as president."

Hurray...I was afraid it was one of the many Lincoln artifacts lost to history!

Thanks, Anita!

Let's try one more. Which First Lady wore this gown to the inaugural balls?

Hi Mr. Norton, I've recently been studying a lot about the first ladies; is it Barbara Bush?

I agree with Paige, I think it's Barbara Bush. It's a very pretty dress, too!

Congrats Paige and Toia! You are both winners! Like Anita yesterday you win Inaugural tickets for 2017.


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Thanks Roger!! I am not sure if I can still fit into my prom dress-I doubt it-but it's worth a crack!

Thank you, Mr. Norton. I recall reading that Barbara Bush was so fond of the asymmetrically draped design, that she was reluctant to make the customary donation to the Smithsonian Institution!

"I love this dress," she said, "and I really hate to give it up."

As for the Taft question and speaking of gowns, for that one goes "nomen est omen" - in German the answer IS the gown if it was made of taffeta (which means "Taft" in German).

What is the First Lady's name? What is the son's name?

Jane Pierce, I assumed it was one of her sons, before I had to look it up.

So if you don't want to know who it is, close your eyes.
(Her son, Benjamin)

My source is this http://www.dallasnews.com/news/columnist...t-lady.ece

Mrs. Arthur? I think the son was a partygoer whitout a serious occupation.

That is a wonderful guess, Eva, but Gene got it. It's a photo of Jane Pierce with her son, Benny. Sadly, Benny was killed in an awful train accident during the time when Franklin Pierce was president-elect.

Gene, you now get to join Paige, Toia, and Anita at the 2017 inauguration.

I looked at that photo and I knew immediately that it was Jane Pierce and her little boy. He died a horrible death...I think I read he was decapitated in an accident? Mrs. Pierce suffered a breakdown and never recovered and of course his father Franklin Pierce was devastated as well.

Toia, that is also what I have read about Benjamin Pierce's death. What a tragedy.