The Bixby Letter

[Eva Elisabeth]

(07-23-2017 01:40 AM)Steve Wrote:  In his article, Burlingame suggested that Hay helped Lincoln draft his letter to the parents of Elmer Ellsworth. Has anybody ever suggested such a scenario for the Bixby Letter? I just don't see Lincoln signing a short condolence letter for a mother who he thought had lost 5 sons, as a favor to political ally Gov. Andrew, without having any input into what it said. But if this new study proves to be reliable in its methods and results pointing to Hay, isn't it possible Lincoln could've asked Hay for his ideas on what to write as he penned the letter? The letter was short and probably didn't take that long to write, so if it was written in this manner it's not unreasonable that Hay wouldn't remember it during his conversation with Robert Lincoln decades later.

I (meanwhile) tend to agree with Cliff on his last passage and points. Plus as for Robert - he was so proud of his father's legacy I could imagine Hay as his friend didn't want to interfere with that. As for Mr. Burlingame's suggestion - Abraham Lincoln certainly wouldn't have needed "idea input" help to write a private letter of condolence to a "common citizen" of no or minor public/political influence or importance (my QUESTION - was it to expect for the White House the letter would be published?) and not even personally known to him. But since the days of his first election and without a war to deal with he had needed the help of secretaries to help with the mass of correspondency obligations.