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8. Abraham Lincoln enjoyed getting out of the house whenever he could
Access to the president was far less controlled in Lincoln’s time than it is now, and the president was continuously hounded by job seekers and others coming to the White House to gain an interview with him. Lincoln enjoyed leaving the house on horseback or in a carriage, often visiting the nearby Soldier’s Home. He also left on foot, walking to the War Department to monitor the progress of battles and troop movements during the Civil War via the office’s telegraph. Lincoln also enjoyed the theater throughout his term in office, gaining a respite from the strains which marked his presidency for a few hours. He too enjoyed Shakespeare’s plays.
A less well-known leisure activity enjoyed by President Lincoln helped him escape from his office, often in company with his son Tad. Lincoln enjoyed visiting the US Patent Office, which at the time had a large display hall with models built to demonstrate inventions. Lincoln, the only American president to hold a patent, had extensive experience in patent law from his days as a lawyer in Springfield. He was able to view the displays, which included Benjamin Franklin’s printing press, in relative peace, admiring American ingenuity displayed in so many forms.