PiXL Pearls Lincoln's Beard
Dec 7, 2025
The podcast dives into a fascinating slice of history: an 11-year-old girl's letter to Abraham Lincoln that prompted him to grow a beard. It examines how a simple suggestion shaped Lincoln's public image and reflects on leadership's humanity. With insights into the significance of listening and adapting, the discussion emphasizes the power of small gestures in enacting change. Listeners are invited to ponder how personal connections and symbolic acts define effective leadership, making this story resonate long after Lincoln's time.
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Girl's Letter Changes A President
- An 11-year-old girl, Grace Bedell, wrote to Abraham Lincoln urging him to grow whiskers to improve his thin face and win votes.
- Lincoln replied, debated the idea, then grew a beard and later met and kissed Grace at a station platform.
Inauguration Meet: A Personal Moment
- On his train to inauguration, Lincoln invited Grace to the station, sat with her, showed his whiskers and kissed her cheek.
- Grace later recalled the brief, memorable conversation and never saw him again.
Story Enters Popular Memory
- The Grace-and-Lincoln story gained popularity after his assassination and inspired statues, TV dramas, and books across decades.
- The tale entered public imagination and was commemorated in media and a local statue.