From his previous sojourn in the capital, President Lincoln had a fund
of good stories upon his predecessors. Among them was the following
tale about President Tyler, one of the weakest chiefs the republic has
ever known, with the exception of Franklin Pierce. Lincoln said that
this President's son "Bob" was sent by his father to arrange about a
special train for an excursion. The railroad agent happened to be a
hard-shell Whig, and having no fear of the great, and wanting no favor,
shrank from allowing him any. He said that the road did not run any
"specials" for Presidents.
"Stop!" interrupted Bob, "did you not furnish a special for
General-President Harrison?" (Died 1841.)
"S'pose we did," answered the superintendent; "well, if you will bring
your father here in that condition, you shall have the best train on
the track!"
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