Ghosts
This is the time of year when all the stories crop up about ghosts, spirits, and sightings of former inhabitants of the White House are retold everywhere.
Some say Dolly Madison, the wife of the fourth President of the United States, is still around, tending to her beloved Rose Garden.
But most of the stories of ghosts involve Abraham Lincoln or one of Lincoln’s relatives, and whether true or not, they’re fascinating.
Grace Coolidge, the First Lady when her husband Calvin was President, was the first to report seeing ghosts … the ghost of Abraham Lincoln. She said she saw his ghost in the yellow Oval room staring out at the Potomac.
The Queen of the Netherlands, Wilhelmina, was on a visit to the White House in 1942 and reported she heard footsteps outside her bedroom and a knock on the door. It is reported she opened the door and saw the ghost of Lincoln standing there in a frock coat and top hat. She fainted.
Both Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin Roosevelt claimed to have seen ghosts … again Lincoln; one of FDR’s valet ran screaming from the White House saying he had seen him.
Eleanor Roosevelt never said she saw Lincoln, but on several occasions said she felt his presence throughout the White House. She also thought Roosevelt’s dog, Fala, barked for no reason and she felt it was because of Lincoln’s presence. Several press secretaries, also said they frequently felt Lincoln’s presence.
Both Margaret Truman and her father President Harry Truman, have said they heard a knock at the door or footsteps outside the room when each slept in the Lincoln bedroom.
There are numerous other stories but the best is when Sir Winston Churchill was visiting the White House. Well known for his love of late night long hot baths, complete with a glass of Scotch and a cigar to relax, it has been reported that Churchill got out of the tub, cigar still in his mouth, and before dressing, walked back into the bedroom. There he saw Lincoln standing by the fireplace, leaning on the mantle. The naked Churchill simply took the cigar out of his mouth, tapped the ashes off, turned to Lincoln and said, “Good Evening, Mr. President. You seem to have me at a disadvantage.”
Lincoln smiled and disappeared.
