The Lincoln Douglas Chats

Appleton veterinarian E.H. Graves lived in Illinois in 1858 and later claimed he drove Lincoln and Douglas between two of the debates: "Douglas was short, round, dressed in broadcloth and wore a silk hat. … Lincoln was tall, raw-boned and awkward. … He and Douglas would tell stories and chaff each other. They were the best of friends personally, both capital storytellers."

This little article reminds us that, as much as Lincoln and Douglas were bitter political rivals, they were also longtime friends and acquaintances. That’s one of the things that even the best biographies tend not to mention, beyond the tantalizing fact that Mary Lincoln had been courted by both of them.

via Odd Wisconsin: Lincoln looked grotesque, awkward.