History Main / AbrahamLincoln

Fact: AbrahamLincoln can and, if needed, will, beat you in a fight.
Even if you're Franchise/{{Batman}}. Or [[http://www.glarkware.com/adult/bigfoot-vs-abe-lincoln Bigfoot]]. In some ways, Abraham Lincoln is almost as much a MemeticBadass as ChuckNorris. In fact, this is [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj2Zf9tlg2Y where you can go to watch them have a rap battle.]] Some would count him as the only president to be more BadAss than TheodoreRoosevelt (and maybe AndrewJackson, if you [[ValuesDissonance ignore the politics]]). On the other hand, Website/{{Cracked}} [[http://www.cracked.com/article_15895_the-5-most-badass-presidents-all-time_p2.html doesn't even count him among the top five,]] though the same author later acknowledged the oversight and made an article devoted strictly to Lincoln called [[http://www.cracked.com/blog/abraham-lincoln-portrait-crazy-badass/ Abraham Lincoln: Portrait Of A Crazy Badass.]] It really depends on how much weight you give the BadassBeard.

Also Fact: In 1842 AbrahamLincoln was once challenged to a duel by political rival, state auditor James Shields. In dueling, the challenged party selects the place of the duel, and the weapons to be used. Since Lincoln felt the situation was ridiculous he stated that he wanted to use "Cavalry Broadswords of the [[{{BFS}} largest size]]". He also added that he wanted the duel to be carried out in a pit 10 feet wide by 12 feet deep with a large wooden plank dividing the square in which no man was allowed to set foot over. Shields was going to go through with it, but then saw Lincoln clearing branches with a broadsword and realized how insane the situation had became and backed down.

* One of Bob Newhart's early routines, "AbrahamLincoln vs. Madison Avenue", satirically juxtaposes the cynical marketing of modern political candidates with Lincoln's honesty.

* From the opening of ''PoliceSquad'': "...And Rex Hamilton as Abraham Lincoln!", which leads to a brief shot of Lincoln firing back at John Wilkes Booth.

* In ''Music/UltimateShowdownOfUltimateDestiny'', He popped out of his grave, took an AK-47 out from under his hat, and blew Franchise/{{Batman}} away with a rat-a-tat-tat, but he ran out of bullets and ran away 'cause [[{{Transformers}} Optimus Prime]] [[BigDamnHeroes arrived to save the day]].
** He soon came back with a machete, but got tripped by IndianaJones with his whip. Later, he tried to pole-vault onto Optimus Prime, but collided with JackieChan in the air. Then they both got hit by a [[CareBears Care Bear]] Stare.

* Lincoln is a BadAss CursedWithAwesome [[strike:Zombie]] Harrowed MIB in ''{{Deadlands}}''.

* BadassBeard
* BadassBookworm: Famously learned how to read with books he borrowed from neighbors, and learned arithmetic on the back of a shovel while doing farm work.
* BadassNickname: The Great Emancipator.

* DarkHorseVictory: More or less. He wasn't really well-known until his debates with Douglas in 1858.

There are also a number of folks who think Abe Lincoln was a fundamentally good guy, and had the nation's best interests at heart, but that America would be better off today if he had let the South go, arguing that the North and the South are two fundamentally different places. In addition, he had won the election without a single Southern electoral vote -- in some states, he wasn't even on the ballot. (The South was [[AmericanCivilWar pretty miffed]] over his opposition to slavery.) He was pretty widely reviled and despised among certain segments of the Northern population as well- particularly Irish-Americans, who alleged (with [[{{Conscription}} some justification]]) that they were being used as [[WeHaveReserves cannon fodder]] for "Lincoln's War".

* TheDeterminator: Absolutely refused to allow the Union to break up without a fight, and--despite a turbulent public mood, internal riots, General McClellan's attempt to unseat him in 1864, and an incident that almost resulted in Britain siding with the Confederacy--ultimately succeeded in navigating through the crisis and reunited the States of America.

* TheDeterminator

* BadassBookworm

* TheAmericanCivilWar

* In one episode of Supernews, a sketch involved President Obama, after running out of ideas on how to fix the economy, having his entire cabinet dig up Abe's body, insert all the stem cells they could find, and see what happened. He beat up the head of AIG.

Even if you're {{Batman}}. Or [[http://www.glarkware.com/adult/bigfoot-vs-abe-lincoln Bigfoot]]. In some ways, Abraham Lincoln is almost as much a MemeticBadass as ChuckNorris. In fact, this is [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zj2Zf9tlg2Y where you can go to watch them have a rap battle.]] Some would count him as the only president to be more BadAss than TheodoreRoosevelt (and maybe AndrewJackson, if you [[ValuesDissonance ignore the politics]]). On the other hand, Website/{{Cracked}} [[http://www.cracked.com/article_15895_the-5-most-badass-presidents-all-time_p2.html doesn't even count him among the top five,]] though the same author later acknowledged the oversight and made an article devoted strictly to Lincoln called [[http://www.cracked.com/blog/abraham-lincoln-portrait-crazy-badass/ Abraham Lincoln: Portrait Of A Crazy Badass.]] It really depends on how much weight you give the BadassBeard.

* In ''Music/UltimateShowdownOfUltimateDestiny'', He popped out of his grave, took an AK-47 out from under his hat, and blew {{Batman}} away with a rat-a-tat-tat, but he ran out of bullets and ran away 'cause [[{{Transformers}} Optimus Prime]] [[BigDamnHeroes arrived to save the day]].

* NB: The fencing treatise "By the Sword" notes that Lincoln's [[RefugeInAudacity apparently ridiculous]] rules for the duel [[CrazyAwesome belie a cunning tactician's mind]]: By choosing long, heavy weapons and dividing the dueling ground to prevent his opponent from closing distance, the much taller Lincoln ensured that he--with his nearly 6 inch longer reach--could attack with impunity and/or (more likely) [[PeaceThroughSuperiorFirepower effectively stalemate the duel without drawing blood]].

* In a few of the ''{{Flashman}}'' books, Lincoln appears as a rare example of a MagnificentBastard with completely good motives who also has some similarity with the "[[ToKillAMockingbird Atticus Finch]]" "simple country lawyer" type. He is notable as one of the few characters who sees right through Flashman.

* ''WesternAnimation/TheVentureBrothers'' meet Lincoln's ghost.

* At the end of ''Film/HappyGilmore'', he's seen alongside the alligator that ate Chubbs Larson's hand and [[spoiler:Chubbs himself]] waving at Happy from Heaven.

Also Fact: In 1842 AbrahamLincoln was once challenged to a duel by political rival James Shields. In dueling, the challenged party selects the place of the duel, and the weapons to be used. Since Lincoln felt the situation was ridiculous he stated that he wanted to use "Cavalry Broadswords of the [[{{BFS}} largest size]]". He also added that he wanted the duel to be carried out in a pit 10 feet wide by 12 feet deep with a large wooden plank dividing the square in which no man was allowed to set foot over. Shields was going to go through with it, but then saw Lincoln clearing branches with a broadsword and realized how insane the situation had became and backed down.

* SpookySeance: Mary Lincoln attended some, to talk to her dead children. Abe came along a few times, mostly out of curiosity. He personally consulted teenage medium Nettie Colburn Mayne once, about the timing of the (already written) Emancipation Proclamation.

** Lincoln took a few well-documented jabs at the series of ineffective military commanders that led the union army prior to U.S. Grant's arrival. Once telling the overly-cautious General George [=McClellan=]: "If you are not using the army, I should like to borrow it for a short while."

* BiTheWay: Some biographers allege that Lincoln was occasionally caught in bed with army officers during the course of the war, while his wife was in a near catatonic state after the death of their son.

* NiceHat: He's well-known for his stovepipe hat.

[[RuleOfThree Also Also Fact]]: Abraham Lincoln, 140 years before its first usage in [[ProfessionalWrestling ECW]], frickin' '''invented the chokeslam'''. During his youth as a "wrassler", one of Lincoln's opponents made the mistake of stomping on Lincoln's instep with the heel of his boot. As recounted by noted Lincoln biographer Carl Sandburg, "This exasperated Lincoln so that he lost his temper, lifted Armstrong up by the throat and off the ground, shook him like a rag, and then slammed him to a hard fall, flat on his back."[[note]]Another account of the match can be read [[http://rogerjnorton.com/Lincoln48.html here]].[[/note]]

Incidentally, in contrast to most modern-day BadassBaritone depictions, Lincoln's voice was actually [[RealityIsUnrealistic somewhat high-pitched and nasal]]. For something approaching what's considered to be more accurate, consider [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQueA6ackmk this feature]], filmed for Time Magazine. Creator/DanielDayLewis became the first actor to break away from the deep-voiced tradition with his portrayal of the 16th President in 2012's ''{{Film/Lincoln}}''; this alone was considered a huge deal, nevermind that pesky 'ignoring Supreme Court rulings' stuff.

* [[Negativland's Lincoln Robot http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hfzf9seMBMs]] satire on the Disney Animatronic version.
* The Conception Corporation had a skit where Edward R. Murrow did on-the-spot reports from Heaven. When he came upon Lincoln, he asked him what he thought of the current world siuation.
->'''Lincoln.''' I think it's a mess. The niggers are --
->'''Murrow.''' Thank you, Abe.