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When you first take a look at Abraham Lincoln and John
Kennedy, they’re just two ordinary Presidents. Lincoln was a
Republican, Kennedy was a Democrat. Lincoln was born in
1809, Kennedy was born in 1917. Lincoln’s family was poor;
Kennedy’s was definitely not.
So far, so different, right?
Not so fast.
Both men were military leaders: Lincoln in the Black Hawk
War, and Kennedy in World War II. Both were elected to the
House of Representatives, Lincoln in 1846 and Kennedy in
1946. They were nominated for the Vice Presidency 100 years
apart, but neither won their election.
Lincoln and his wife, Mary, lost a child before moving into
the White House, and then again after their move. Kennedy
and his wife, Jacqueline, lost a child before moving into
the White House, and then again after their move.
Wow, huh? Just wait….
Lincoln absolutely hated slavery, and did everything
he could to stop it; that’s why he was a Republican, since
that party wanted to end slavery. After the Civil War,
Lincoln met with Frederick Douglass, who knew Lincoln was
“committed to the cause.”
Kennedy hated Jim Crow laws, and wanted to give
African Americans equal rights. He met with Martin Luther
King, Jr., who knew Kennedy was committed to the cause. In
1963, Kennedy presented a Civil Rights bill to Congress.
Lincoln was shot on a Friday in Ford’s Theatre; Kennedy was
shot on a Friday while riding in a Ford Lincoln. Andrew
Johnson took over the Presidency when Lincoln died; Lyndon
Johnson took over the Presidency when Kennedy died.
Today, if you stand at Kennedy’s grave, you can see the
Lincoln Memorial…
For about as long as there’s been an internet, most of
what’s inside this book has been on it. That doesn’t mean,
of course, that your child’s seen these eerie coincidences
before, so Lincoln and Kennedy: A Pair to Compare
just might dazzle him.
Starting with, and mixing in, balancing differences amidst
the similarities, author Gene Barretta shows kids how
history can be a weird and wonderful thing, especially when
it comes to these two influential presidents. Barretta
doesn’t try to make things light; he states facts in
straightforward, simple language, allowing his illustrations
to bring the smiles here. Though I thought the comparison
ends with a whimper, it quickly snaps back with
audience-pleasing tidbits that kids will love.
Though this may look like a children’s picture book, the
terminology inside is meant more for older readers, up to
Sixth Grade. For them – and maybe even for you – Lincoln
and Kennedy: A Pair to Compare is a nice treat.
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