Abraham Lincoln and John Lennon: The President and the Beatle
Published September 28, 2006
At 10 p.m., in a theatre, Abraham Lincoln began his last conscious hour on earth. He was shot at point-blank range while sitting in Box 7 of Ford's Theatre.
At 10 p.m., in a studio, John Lennon began his last conscious hour on earth. He was shot at point-blank range while heading for Floor 7 of the Dakota Apartments.
Lincoln's assassin stepped out of the darkness of a front box seat's entryway. He approached from the rear, emptying his easily concealed derringer in a wafting puff of grayish-blue smoke.
Lennon's assassin stepped out of the darkness of a front alcove's entryway. He approached from the rear, emptying his easily concealed .38-cal revolver in a wafting puff of grayish-blue smoke.
Lincoln was gunned down by a southern-born 26-year-old, and was later pronounced dead on Tenth Street.
Lennon was gunned down by a southern-born 25-year-old, and was later pronounced dead on Ninth Avenue.
The assassin's first reaction to his deed was to mutter a Latin phrase that he had memorized from a book.
The assassin's first reaction to his deed was to open a book and stand mesmerized.
Lincoln's wife was with him when he was shot, but she was not hurt.
Lennon's wife was with him when he was shot, but she was not hurt.
Lincoln, a president, was hunted by Booth, a performer. He gave his Number One speech (the "Gettysburg Address") in 1863.
Lennon, a performer, was hounded by Nixon, a president. He had his first Number One Record ("Please, Please Me") in 1963.
His most famous statement starts off by placing itself in the context of time ("four score and seven years ago"). After his moving speech, part of a field (in Gettysburg) was turned into a park.
His group's most famous statement (the Sgt. Pepper CD) starts off by placing itself in the context of time ("20 years ago today"). After his moving music, part of a park (in New York) was turned into a field.
He liked to work poetic elements into his politics, often emphasizing that all men were created equal.
He liked to work political elements into his poetry, often emphasizing that all men AND women were created equal.
Lincoln was a lawyer, by trade, who intuitively understood the music of politics.
- Abraham Lincoln and John Lennon: The President and the Beatle
- Published: September 28, 2006
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Culture
- Filed Under: Culture: Celebrity, Culture: Crime and Court, Culture: History, Politics: Law and Rights
- Writer: Jim O'Donnell
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- Jim O'Donnell's personal site
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Comments on this articleComments
What do Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy have in common?
On the day he died, Lincoln was in Monroe, Maryland.
On the day he died, JFK was in Marilyn Monroe.
One of the Baby Boomer mind's less attractive qualities is to romanticize John Lennon as a better man than he actually was.
I love his music dearly, passionately, but frankly to compare John Lennon to Abraham Lincoln is to make Lennon look extremely small.
I like this John was a famose musician who used his place in the world to mack a different and get his voice heard. I admire John and Abraham they are both hard working men who did what they could no matter the critism of others.
I wasn't around during Linclon's time. But knowing our U.S.history. He was a compassionate intellegent human being and admired President. I was alive and aware of Lennon's life and times. He was also an intellegent,compassionate man of peace.One who attempted and achieved leaving his mark of compassions on this sociaty. Sometimes greatness has to leave it's mark.~Carrol Denny/poet~Suseann Allpoetry.com
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One of the human mind's less attractive qualities is its ability to string together insignificant parallels, and seek to gin up their importance.