Abraham Lincoln entered American history as the most popular and most respected president, but also the least charismatic. Writer and professor Michael Philip Anderson describes him as follows: “tall, skinny, big-eared, sharp-voiced, hooked-nosed, repulsive.”
How was Lincoln making up for these shortcomings? You will not believe the answer, as the legendary man was funny and light-hearted, captivating his audience with spontaneous jokes and his way of delivering them, and his quick wit in fruiting his opponents and supporters alike. Among the most famous things he was quoted as saying: “They say that I am two-faced, and this is not true, because if I was really like that, I would have adopted the other side and completely abandoned this.”
Humor plays an essential role in the lives of politicians. Ronald Reagan built his electoral battles on a sense of humor. His rival, Walter Mondale, blamed him for his advanced age, so his answer, which finally eliminated Mondale’s chances of winning, was: “It is true that I am old with a lot of experience, and I am ready to help my competitors when the need arises.”
Many criticized Abraham Lincoln for laughing at everything, with the New York Herald saying, “His election was a joy in itself.” And when he lost his mother and sister in the civil war, he began to cover his depression with more jokes, which made him vulnerable to intense criticism, especially from cartoonists, some of whom wondered if the man was serious enough to become head of state.
It is proven that all American presidents, without exception, resorted to humor in their speech, and commissioned specialized writers to fabricate jokes about them. John F. Kennedy’s first election battle was famous for saying: “I asked my father to buy me a sufficient number of votes, but because of his generosity and wealth, he bought more numbers than registered voters.”
Winston Churchill was perhaps the most humorous politician in history. His laughing glimpses were collected in more than one book, and entire libraries were included in his prolific books. But the political leaders do not perpetuate the irony of their owners. Abraham Lincoln turned into America’s greatest president, not because of his many jokes, but because of his historical role in liberating brown America.
