It's fascinating to recount the personal history of so many of our US Presidents and realize the "unique" relationship that most had with their father and mother.  A quick review:

    Harry Truman - Harry's Dad was a rather domineering, masculine man, who was less than impressed with his rather "puny" son with extremely poor eyesight.  Harry was highly influenced by his mother.

    Dwight Eisenhower - Eisenhower's Father had gone bust at farming and business.  Ike's Mom was a HUGE force in his life.  In fact, all five of her sons went on to highly successful careers (A College President, Bank President, Insurance Exec.)

    Lyndon Johnson - While Lyndon Johnson's father had come from a strong political pedigree, the family fell on extremely hard times.  LBJ was unusually close to his mother.

    Richard M. Nixon - In Nixon's farewell address before leaving the White House, he talked at length about the great force that was his Mother (He forgot to mention or thank his own wife, Pat).  Nixon, like so many others, also had a close maternal bond, but little connection with his father.

    Gerald Ford - HIs mother divorced Ford's father, when he was relatively young.  He was raised by his adopted Step Father.

    Ronald Reagan - Reagan's father suffered business losses and severe alcoholism.  The bond with his mother was extremely tight.

    Bill Clinton - Clinton's own father was killed in an automobile accident, before Bill was even born.  His step father, whose last name he took for his own, abused both alcohol and Bill's mother.  

    Barack Obama - Many know that Obama only spent time with his father on two different occasions.  He was unusually close to his mother.   

It is incredible to realize, in modern times, how many of our Presidents grew up with challenging relationships with their fathers and unusually strong bonds with their mothers. 

Which brings us to Abraham Lincoln.  Born 200 years ago, yesterday, Lincoln was also unusually close to his mother.  Just yesterday, I learned of a possible reason for that bond. 

In Kentucky, a successful farmer, with the last name of Enloe raised a large family.  His household staff included a young girl, 16 years of age.  Rumor holds that the house maid, though not married, became pregnant.   Farmer Enloe then paid a rather poor, single unmarried man by the name of Thomas Lincoln to marry the pregnant maid, whose name was Nancy Hanks.    

Of course, Tom and Nancy are the parents of Abraham Lincoln.  Tom Lincoln was a rather short and stocky fellow, while Farmer Enloe was tall and lean.  Like so many other Presidents, Abe had an unusually close bond with his mother, but had a difficult relationship with his father.  In fact, Abe left the family farm, the minute he was legally able to. 

As for farmer Enloe?  His first name was..........Abraham.