Lincoln, the unknown

12I f Lincoln had married Ann Rutledge, in all probabilityhe would have been happy, but he would not have been President.He was slow in thought and movement, and she was notthe type that would have driven him to achieve political distinction.But Mary Todd, obsessed with an undying determinationto live in the White House, was no sooner married to Lincolnthan she had him out running for the Whig nomination forCongress.The battle was a fierce one; and, incredible as it seems, hispolitical enemies accused him of being an infidel because he belongedto no church, and denounced him as a tool of wealthand aristocracy because he had affiliated himself through marriagewith the haughty Todd and Edwards families. Ridiculousas the charges were, Lincoln realized that they might hurt himpolitically. So he answered his critics: "Only one of my relativeshas ever visited me since I came to Springfield, and that one,before he got out of town, was accused of stealing a jew's-harp.Now, if that is being a member of a proud, aristocratic family,then I am guilty of the offense."When the election came, Lincoln was defeated. It was thefirst political setback of his career.Two years later he ran again and won. Mary Lincoln wasecstatic; believing that his political triumphs had just begun,she ordered a new evening gown and polished up her Frenchverbs. As soon as her husband reached the capital, she addressedher letters to "The Honorable A. Lincoln." But he puta stop to that at once.87