can someone explain this history?

Question

History Lesson





Have a history teacher explain this----- if they can.

Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846.
John F. Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946.

Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860.
John F. Kennedy was elected President in 1960.

Both were particularly concerned with civil rights.
Both wives lost their children while living in the White House.

Both Presidents were shot on a Friday.
Both Presidents were shot in the head.

Now it gets really weird.

Lincoln 's secretary was named Kennedy.
Kennedy's Secretary was named Lincoln.

Both were assassinated by Southerners.
Both were succeeded by Southerners named Johnson.

Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln, was born in 1808.
Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was born in 1908.

John Wilkes Booth, who assassinated Lincoln, was born in 1839.
Lee Harvey Oswald, who assassinated Kennedy, was born in 1939.

Both assassins were known by their three names.
Both names are composed of fifteen letters.

Now hang on to your seat.

Lincoln was shot at the theater named 'Ford.'
Kennedy was shot in a car called ' Lincoln' made by 'Ford.'

Lincoln was shot in a theater and his assassin ran and hid in a warehouse.
Kennedy was shot from a warehouse and his assassin ran and hid in a theater.

Booth and Oswald were assassinated before their trials.

And here's the kicker...

A week before Lincoln was shot, he was in Monroe, Maryland
A week before Kennedy was shot, he was with Marilyn Monroe.

Answer 1

Ugh... Someone posts this question at least once a week.

http://www.snopes.com/history/american/lincoln-kennedy.asp

Most of the points are just plain wrong or coincidental.

Answer 2

I, with degrees in History & Archaeology (and taught classes in said subjects) say its a series of coincidences.

You could also say that they both fought in the last major war before they were elected president

Both were from the North (so it was logical to have a red-neck as a running mate; look at poor Kerry- stuck with Edwards when he lost);

Fords were some of the most popular cars at the time

Assassins are often killed off before their trials; if they were part of a conspiracy (Booth was, Kennedy possibly- but can't prove it)

You know where else they were a week before being killed? Washington DC.

Most Americans have 3 names, why wouldn't the assasins? Besides, if I were John Frank Booth or Lee Smith Oswald, I would be DAMN certain to start using all 3 names!!

(perhaps bad taste) Didn't you know its better to fire people on Fridays? And the Head is the best place to shoot someone if you want to KILL them and you are close or have good aim.

IN 1860, losing Children isn't exactly UNcommon. I don't think JBKO lost a kid while they were in the white house, but my Post 1900 history is rough at best.

Elections are in Even years; presidential election years are divisible by 4.

For all these coincidences that people have found; there are MILLIONS of differences in their lives.

LHO was a Marine- and their motto is Semper Fideles; JWB was an actor; and he said Sic Semper Tyrranus (also the state motto of VA) after he shot Lincoln.

JWB broke his leg (or ankle) when he leaped onto the stage after shooting Lincoln and it was fixed by a Dr named Mudd. LHO not so much.

LHO used a rifle, JWB a pistol.

JFK had many brothers in Politics. LIncoln not so much.

Mary Lincoln ugly, JBKO- hot at the time.

Oh, and here's the kicker: they both were guys, had 2 parents.....had a wife, who was a woman....

Answer 3

I don't see it as being all that remarkable. First you have to take out all the things that aren't true: the birthdate for Booth is wrong, Marilyn Monroe was already dead, Lincoln had no secretary named Kennedy. Some of the things are a real stretch: Mrs. Kennedy lost a premature baby while Mrs. Lincoln lost three children to disease (though only one while in the White House). Then you have to look at the probably of the other things happening, as the Snopes article explains.

Answer 4

When I signed in this morning my point total was 5188.
There's a recent movie about the Spanish Armada of 1588.
LOL. I've not seen the Lincoln / Kennedy thing carried to this extreme. Someone has even more time on their hands than
I do. Fun stuff. Coincidence as noted by answerers above.
Are we sure that JFK was with Marilyn Monroe the week
before he died? If so, that alone is pretty weird since she
died more than a year earlier in August 1962. JFK was
killed in November 1963.

Answer 5

These historical parallels have been around and well known for years. Some (not all) are facts, of course, which no one can dispute. But as for "explaining" them...what's to explain? Amazing? Yes. Eerie? Yes. But beyond that, coincidental facts are all they are.

EDIT:

For those who are interested in probing this further, the website below offers an interesting perspective on just how "amazing" these coincidental "facts" are, or more precisely, are NOT.

Answer 6

Just goes to show the mysterious unending thread we call life!
By the way, while there are abundances of coincidences here, they still remain just that, coincidence.

But it's very informational AND entertaining to be able to read this summary of someone's hard research effort.

Answer 7

Co-incidental Facts!!!

Answer 8

I am not sure what needs explaining, but it is apparent that history does have a way of repeating itself.

This is very interesting

Answer 9

This is so amazing!!!!

There's no way to explain this, except coincidence and that life/history is really weird!!