Yesterday we paid tribute to the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Bobby Kennedy by discussing the scene that played out as his body made it final journey from New York to Washington DC. The emotional outpouring of grief from Americans of all walks of life, rich and poor, old and young, black and white, remains in our collective national awareness for all time. Yet there was a precedent for such an emotional reaction to the untimely passing of a beloved public figure. It had all happened before, in April 1865.
Abraham Lincoln was a true American hero. Like Bobby Kennedy would do a century later, Abraham Lincoln provided a voice for the downtrodden and oppressed. His Emancipation Proclamation brought slavery to an end. He was a wartime president who eventually managed to reunify the country under the banner of hope for the future. He remains to this day one of the best and most moving orators the United States has ever seen.
Lincoln’s assassination on April 14, 1865 stunned the nation. Plans were made for him to be buried in his native Illinois. A train, rather than a traditional funeral car, was prepared for the journey. After lying in state for ten days, it was time for the president to make his final journey. Bearing a picture of the fallen president on its cowcatcher, the funeral train set off on a 1600 mile trip.
All along the route, mourners took the opportunity to pay their last respects. Although over 500,000 had gathered in Washington DC to say their goodbyes, many more were unable to make the trip. Instead, they approached the train tracks. Some built bonfires. Old and young, rich and poor, black and white gathered together to salute the man who had made such a difference in their lives.
Although they lived and died a century apart, many connections can be drawn between Bobby Kennedy and Abraham Lincoln. Both were forward-thinking humanitarians dedicated to human rights and equality. Both served during a difficult period in the nation’s history. Both were well-spoken orators capable of inspiring followers across political lines. And both drew the respect of a nation who made their way to the railroad tracks to say their final goodbyes to the passing funeral car train.