Jonah Patel
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, was known for his distinctive appearance, including his trademark top hat, which made him stand out in a crowd. Lincoln is said to have used this large silk stovepipe hat not only as an accessory but also as a practical storage space for important documents, including speeches, official government papers, and personal letters. This practice was even depicted in Steven Spielberg's film Lincoln, where the president, played by Daniel Day-Lewis, retrieves his speech from his hat during a post office dedication event. The question remains: did Lincoln really keep the Constitution, one of the nation's most important documents, in his hat?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Height of Abraham Lincoln | 6 feet, 4 inches |
| Type of hat | Stovepipe hat, silk top hat |
| Height of the hat | 7 to 8 inches |
| Usage of the hat | To store important documents, letters, and speeches |
| Hat as a symbol | Prestige and authority |
| Hat as protection | Saved Lincoln's life by blocking a bullet |
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What You'll Learn
Lincoln's hat as a symbol of prestige and authority
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, is often remembered for his signature accessory: a large, silk stovepipe hat. Standing at 6 feet 4 inches, Lincoln was already the tallest president in American history, and his choice of headwear only added to his imposing stature. The stovepipe hat, with its seven- to eight-inch height, became a symbol of prestige and authority, reflecting the era's perception of power and status.
Lincoln's hat not only made him stand out in a crowd but also became an iconic symbol of his presidency. He wore it habitually, in both public and private settings, during times of war and peace. The hat's tall, distinctive shape made Lincoln easily recognisable, even from a distance. This proved to be both advantageous and potentially dangerous, as it made him a more visible target during attempts on his life, such as the well-known incident at the Battle of Fort Stevens in 1864.
Beyond its symbolic value, Lincoln's hat also served a practical purpose. Its spacious interior provided him with a unique storage solution for important documents, personal letters, and even his speeches. Lincoln himself confirmed this practice in an 1850 letter to politician Richard S. Thomas, where he apologised for a delayed response, explaining that he had misplaced the letter after storing it in his old hat. This peculiar habit was even depicted in Steven Spielberg's film "Lincoln," where the president, played by Daniel Day-Lewis, retrieves his speech from his hat during a post office dedication.
Lincoln's hat also took on a life of its own in popular culture. Caricaturists and cartoonists often exaggerated the hat's size in their drawings, using it as a defining characteristic to portray the president. The image of Lincoln in a battered stovepipe hat became so ubiquitous that it inspired a line in playwright John Drinkwater's 1918 play "Abraham Lincoln," where Mrs. Lincoln expresses her desire for her husband to buy a new hat.
In conclusion, Abraham Lincoln's stovepipe hat was more than just a piece of clothing; it became a symbol of prestige, authority, and power during his presidency. Its height and distinctive shape added to his already towering presence, making him stand out in any crowd. The hat's practicality, as a storage solution for important documents, also contributed to its prominence in Lincoln's life and legacy. Today, it remains an enduring symbol of Lincoln's presidency and an iconic piece of American history.
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Lincoln's hat as a storage space for important documents
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, was known for his distinctive tall silk stovepipe hat, which he wore habitually in public. Standing at 6 feet 4 inches, Lincoln was already the tallest president in American history, and his hat only added to his imposing stature.
Beyond its symbolic value, Lincoln's hat served a practical purpose as a storage space for important documents. In a letter to politician Richard S. Thomas in 1850, Lincoln himself confirmed this practice, writing that he had delayed in responding to a letter as he had misplaced it in his old hat. Lincoln's hat, therefore, served as a mobile repository for his papers, allowing him to keep official government documents, personal letters, and even speeches close at hand. This is depicted in Steven Spielberg's film "Lincoln," where the president, played by Daniel Day-Lewis, retrieves his speech from his hat during a post office dedication ceremony.
Lincoln's hat not only kept his papers organised but also may have played a role in his personal safety. In August 1864, Lincoln was riding on horseback to his family's summer home outside Washington, D.C. when an assassin fired at him. The bullet passed through his hat, which was then found with a hole in the crown. This incident led to speculation that the size of the hat made Lincoln a less precise target, potentially saving his life.
Lincoln's choice of headwear, therefore, had significant implications, from providing a convenient storage space for his documents to possibly even contributing to his survival during an assassination attempt.
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Lincoln's hat as a target that may have saved his life
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, was rarely seen without his trademark silk stovepipe hat, which made him stand out in a crowd. At 6 feet 4 inches, Lincoln was already the tallest president in US history, and his hat only added to his height. The hat, which was often battered and crumpled, is said to have been a gimmick that Lincoln chose early in his political career to make him appear more imposing.
On one occasion, in August 1864, Lincoln's hat may have even saved his life. While riding on horseback to his family's summer home outside Washington, D.C., a would-be assassin fired a rifle at him. The bullet passed through his hat, which then fell to the ground as Lincoln rode away unharmed. Soldiers who found the hat confirmed that there was a bullet hole through the crown. This incident gave rise to the belief that the size of the hat obscured the target and helped to save Lincoln's life.
Lincoln's hat was not just a signature accessory, but also a practical choice. Its large size provided ample storage space for important documents, including speeches, official government papers, and personal letters. In an 1850 letter to politician Richard S. Thomas, Lincoln himself confirmed this practice, blaming his hat for a delay in correspondence. He wrote, "I am ashamed of not sooner answering your letter... my only apologies are, first, that I have been very busy in the U.S. court; and second, that when I received the letter I put it in my old hat, and buying a new one the next day, the old one was set aside, and so, the letter lost sight of for a time."
Lincoln's hat also played a role in his public appearances. During his first inauguration in 1860, he wore a lower silk plush hat that was in fashion at the time. By the start of his second term in 1864, he had returned to wearing the stovepipe hat, which had become a symbol of prestige and authority. Lincoln's hat made him an easy target for caricaturists, and many drawings survive in which the hat is a prominent feature.
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Lincoln's hat as a prop in Steven Spielberg's film, Lincoln
In Steven Spielberg's 2012 film Lincoln, the eponymous stovepipe hat is used as a prop in a scene where Lincoln, played by Daniel Day-Lewis, delivers a speech at a post office dedication. In the scene, Lincoln pulls out his speech from his hat, and returns it there once he is done speaking. The audience laughs at the president's dry remark, "That's my speech".
The use of the hat in this scene is based on historical accounts of Lincoln storing important documents in his hat. In an 1850 letter to politician Richard S. Thomas, Lincoln himself confirmed this practice in writing, blaming his hat for a delay in correspondence. Lincoln wrote, "I am ashamed of not sooner answering your letter… my only apologies are, first, that I have been very busy in the U.S. court; and second, that when I received the letter I put it in my old hat, and buying a new one the next day, the old one was set aside, and so, the letter lost sight of for a time."
Lincoln's hat was also a practical choice, providing ample storage space for official government documents and personal letters. It is even said that he would dramatically throw papers from his hat in front of generals while making a point. The hat also served as a symbol of prestige and authority, making Lincoln, who was already America's tallest president at 6 feet 4 inches, even more imposing.
The use of the hat as a prop in the film is a nod to its significance in Lincoln's life and its role in shaping his public image. It is a detail that contributes to the film's authenticity and its rich examination of one of the darkest epochs in American history.
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Lincoln's hat as a gimmick to stand out
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, is remembered for many things, including his iconic top hat. Standing at 6 feet 4 inches, Lincoln was already a tall man, but his signature silk stovepipe hat only added to his stature and made him even more distinctive.
It is believed that Lincoln chose to wear this style of hat as a gimmick to help him stand out, especially in a crowd. The hat, which was typically 7 to 8 inches high, made him even taller and more imposing, ensuring that he was quite literally head and shoulders above those around him. This would certainly have been a factor in helping people identify him, as evidenced by the many caricatures of the time that used his hat as a key identifying feature.
Lincoln's hat also served a practical purpose. Its wide-brimmed and spacious design provided him with ample storage space for important documents, personal letters, and even his speeches. In fact, Lincoln himself confirmed this practice in an 1850 letter to politician Richard S. Thomas, where he apologised for a delayed response, explaining that he had put the letter in his old hat and then bought a new one, causing him to lose sight of the letter for a while.
The hat also quite literally saved his life on one occasion. In August 1864, Lincoln was riding on horseback to his family's summer home when a would-be assassin fired at him. The bullet passed through his hat, which was then found with a hole in the crown, and Lincoln escaped unharmed. This incident led to the belief that the size of the hat made him a less visible target and thus helped save his life.
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Frequently asked questions
It is not known for sure if Lincoln kept the Constitution in his hat, but it is likely that he kept important documents in his hat, including speeches, official government documents, and personal letters.
Lincoln kept documents in his hat for practical reasons. His hat provided ample storage space for important documents, allowing him to keep them close at hand.
Lincoln typically wore a stovepipe hat, a traditional 7- to 8-inch-high hat popular among gentlemen in the 19th century. He also wore silk top hats, including during his first inauguration in 1860.
In August 1864, Lincoln was riding on horseback when a would-be assassin fired at him. The bullet passed through his hat, which some believe may have helped save his life by obscuring the target.
