Tad Lincoln

[RJNorton]

Tad Lincoln may have been born with a partial cleft palate, his teeth came in crooked, and he spoke with a lisp. He was often difficult to understand. William H. Crook, one of President Lincoln's bodyguards, wrote that, "Taddie could never speak very plainly. He had his own language; the names that he gave some of us we like to remember today. The President was 'papa-day' which meant 'papa-dear.' Tom Pendel was 'Tom Pen,' and I was 'Took.' But for all his baby tongue he had a man's heart, and in some things a man's mind. I believe he was the best companion Mr. Lincoln ever had - one who always understood him, and whom he always understood."

Dr. John M. Hutchinson, president of Beacon College, has published extensive research on Tad's speech and language disorder. His research regarding Tad is online here.