Figure 1.--
|
Figure 1.-- |
Willie and Tad with Robbert away at school had the White House to themselves and they thorougly enjoyed romping through the halls and dreaming up adventures. Willie was more even tempered and dutiful than Tad. Unlike Tad who had difficulty focussing his attention, especially on schoolwork, Willie was quite capable of getting down to the business at hand. The boys, despite their differences were very close and shared many interests. In particular they adored animals of all kinds. Americans loved to read about the boys in their newspapers. When their interest in animals was reported, American deluged the white House with animals of all kinds. To the boys' delight there were dogs, rabbits, goats, and ponies. Because the President had no desire to discipline the boys, they did rather much what ever they wanted. The boys as in Springfield had the runof the White House. Lincoln called them, "my splendid fellows". Observers wondered why the boys were not disciplined and kept under better control. Often it was Tad who was behind the more outrageous episodes such as opening fire on the President's cabinent with a toy cannon, but both boys had their share of fun. Normally Tad gave up with the most impresive pranks such sending up a toll gate with his toy cannon to see his father or setting off the bell system in the white house. Much of this appeared in the press and editors pushed reporters for more details. Willie being the more thoughtful of the two, was somewhat irritated by constabtly being watched. He complained, "I wish they wouldn't stare at us so. Hasn't there ever been a boy in the White House before." But he and Tad had a great time. And what an exciting time it must have been for both boys. The White House was full of soldiers. They allowed the boys to examine and even fire their guns. Because of the times, war-related games were popular with the boys, and they even constructed a fort on the White House roof. The war meant that there were many formal events with the President reviewing the troops. Such ceremonies were real favorites for Willie and Tad. When ever they could get permission they accompanied the President when he reviewed the troops at the many army camps ringing Washington. There mother also had an active schedule visiting the troops and wounded soldiers to distribute fruit, books, papers, and other items. The boys also went with her.
Willie and Tad by all acciunts were very close. Perhaps no inseperable because at times Willie sought out the quiet of his mother's room to be away from Tad's frentic activity. Thet were, depites very significant differences in persinality, very close. They grealy enjoyed each other's company. Tad provided the excitement and Willie's prudence probably kept Tad out of even more trouble than he managed to get into. Mrs Lincoln wrote to a friend about Eddie, "I wish you could have known, that dear little boy, for a child, he scarecely seemed to me. So unlike little Taddie, yet so devoted to him. --Their love for each other was charming to behold. [M. Lincoln letter, December 8, 1865.] The boys, with Robbert away at school, had the White House to themselves and they thorougly enjoyed romping through the halls and dreaming up adventures. Willie was more even tempered and dutiful than Tad. Unlike Tad who had difficulty focussing his attention, especially on schoolwork, Willie was quite capable of getting down to the business at hand. The boys, despite their differences were very close and shared many interests.
One interet in particular that the boys shared was that they adored animals of all kinds. Americans loved to read about the boys in their newspapers. When their interest in animals was reported, American deluged the white House with animals of all kinds. To the boys' delight there were dogs, rabbits, goats, and ponies. Tad seems to have been especially interested in the goats. On one of Mrs. Lincoln's legendary shopping trips to New York, Tad insisted that she ask about the goats in her telegram to the President. [M. Lincoln telegram, April 28, 1864.] Tad also had a turkey which managed to rescue from the White House kitchen. Tad named him Jack. On election day 1864, The President noticing him strutibg around the polls while the soldiers were voting. He asked Tad if Jack planned to vote. Tad immediately explained that Jack was too young--a story the president liked to tell. [Baker, p. 236.]
The President and his wife were permissive parents. Because the President had no desire to discipline the boys, they did rather much what ever they wanted. In fact one gets the idea that he rather enjoyed their antics. The boys as in Springfield had the run of the White House. Lincoln called them, "my splendid fellows". This was not the prevailing attitude toward Observers wondered why the boys were not disciplined and kept under better control. Of course the leading figures in America came to the White house to call upon the President and participate in meetings. They as a resilt were sometimes targets of the boys. They were not used to be treated like this and for the most failed to see the humor in it. We suspect that this was a particular delight to the President who did not parricularly taie kindly to pomposity.
Often it was Tad who was behind the more outrageous episodes such as opening fire on the President's cabinent with a toy cannon, but both boys had their share of fun. The antics the boys came up with are difficult to fully chronice. There had been nothing like the pair before or sence. Tad delighted in spraying visiors, including important dignitaries with the the fire hose. The boy disrupted meanings including one memorable incident when they open fore on the cabinent with a toy cannon. The White house was somewhat the worse for wear. Mirrors were broken, doors mysteriously locked, furniture used to construct waggons and sleds. The boys also drilled the sservants in mock military formations.
Normally Tad gave up with the most impresive pranks such sending up a toll gate with his toy cannon to see his father. Showing a fare for military tactics, Tad positined himself at the base of the grand staircase. Tad collected a 5c entrance fee before his father put a stop to it. Tad explained the money went to the Sanitation Fund.
The White House had a bell call system which permitted the President and others to summons the staff. The system was installed in the attic. Tad in his explorations discovered it and was particularly intrigued. Coming from Springfield he had nver seen anything like it. He soon delighted in setting it off and watching the White House staff scurrying about. In fact nothing seems to have pleased Tad more than throwing the White House into tumult. This was rather an advanced form of a favorite boyhood activity--stirring up an any hill. At forst the staff thought that there was something wrong with the system until the culprit was found.
Tad found the White House fire hose was a splendid weapon with which to spray visitors. We do not yet have details on the fire hose and just who the boys used it on.
The boys often interupted meetings, including important cabinent meetings. In one notable cabinent meeting, Tad opened fire with his toy cannon. A toy cannon sounds rather innocuous. The 19th century approch to toys was a bit diiferent than today. As best we can tell, Taddie;s toy cannon was a perfevtly functional cannon, simply made to a small size. What he loaded it with we are not quite sure. Apparently he was able to get hold of some gun powder.
The White House at the time was constantly full of officials, office seekers, reporters, soldiers, well wishers, and others. Tad who has been accused of bdeing slow, apparently had a nose for business. He saw a money making opportunity in the mill of people moving through the White House. He set up a food shop in the lobby. He had a high profit margin because he grabbed what ever was easily at hand frim the White House kitchen.
Mrs Lincoln had planned to serve strawberries for an important state dinner. As preparations began to be finalized, it was found that Tad had made a major dent in the strawberry supply.
Much of the boys' activities appeared in the press and editors pushed reporters for more details. Willie being the more
thoughtful of the two, was somewhat irritated by constantly being watched. He complained, "I wish they wouldn't stare at us so. Hasn't there ever been a boy in the White House before." He and Tad appear to have had a great time in the White House. Perhaps Willie was more affected than is commonly believed. Tad after Willie's death is reported to have said, "I am glad he has gone [to Heaven], for he never was happy after he cam here. This was not a good plave for him." [Carpenter, p. 293.]
And what an exciting time it must have been for both boys. The White House was full of soldiers. They allowed the boys to examine and even fire their guns. Because of the times, war-related games were popular with the boys, and they even constructed a fort on the
White House roof. Tghe boys formed a company from the servants and they would drill on the White House grounds. Secretary of War Edwin
Stanton awarded Tad a pretend military commission. Tad was allowed to wear an actual uniform of which he was extremely proud. The war meant that there were many formal events with the President reviewing the troops. Such ceremonies were real favorites for Willie and Tad. When ever they could get permission they accompanied the President when he reviewed the troops at the many army camps ringing Washington. There mother also had an active schedule visiting the troops and wounded soldiers to distribute fruit, books, papers, and other items. The boys also went with her.
Baker, Jean H. Mary Todd Lincoln: A Biography (Norton, New York, 1987), 429p.
Carpenter, Francis Bicknill. Six Months at the White House with Abraham Lincoln : The Story of a Picture, (New York: 1866).
Kunhard, Dorothy Meserve and Philip B. Kunhardt, Jr., Twenty
Days.
Randall, Ruth Painter. Lincoln's Sons.
Sandburg, Carl. Mary Lincoln: Wife and Widow (Harcourt, Brace, World: New York, 1960), 357p.
Turner, Justin G. and Linda Levitt Turner. Mary Todd Lincoln: Her Life and Letters (Alfred A. Knopf: New York, 1972), 744p.
Weaver, John D. Tad Lincoln: Mischief Maker in the White
House.
Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site:
[Return to the Main Lincoln page]
[Robert]
[Eddie]
[Willie]
[Tad]