Check out this exchange of letters in 1860 between 11-year-old Grace Bedell and soon to be president-elect Abraham Lincoln. The topic is whether or not Lincoln should grow a beard. (HT: AHA Today).
Bedell writes:
I have got 4 brothers and part of them will vote for you any way and if you let your whiskers grow I will try and get the rest of them to vote for you you would look a great deal better for your face is so thin. All the ladies like whiskers and they would tease their husbands to vote for you and then you would be President.
Lincoln responds:
As to the whiskers, having never worn any, do you not think people would call it a piece of silly affectation if I were to begin it now?
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