48 Just a Coincidence?

From 1840 to 1960 every American president elected in the twentieth year— in 1840 (Harrison), 1860 (Lincoln), 1880 (Garfield), 1900 (McKinley), 1920 (Harding), 1940 (Roosevelt), and 1960 (Kennedy)—died in office. Many writers have remarked on this coincidence, but the similarities between the lives of presidents Lincoln and Kennedy can be particularly unusual.

Striking parallels can be observed between the careers of these two charismatic leaders. Lincoln was first elected to Congress in 1846, Kennedy in 1946, and each worked for the cause of civil rights. Both presidents were assassinated: Lincoln in 1865, Kennedy in 1963. Both men had been in office for one year of their terms when they were killed. The successors of both Lincoln and Kennedy—Andrew Johnson (born in 1808) and Lyndon Johnson (born in 1908)—were themselves named Johnson.

Additionally, the assassinations occurred on Fridays, with the wives of the presidents present. Lincoln had a secretary named Kennedy who wanted him not to attend the theater on the night he was killed. President Kennedy’s secretary, a Mrs. Lincoln, wanted him to avoid visiting Dallas, which came to be the site of his death.

Are the similarities significant, or just coincidences? Perhaps if people had been aware of the parallels between his and Lincoln’s life, Kennedy might have listened to his secretary’s warning.

48 只是巧合吗？

从1840年到1960年，每一位在以0结尾的年份当选的美国总统——1840年的哈里森、1860年的林肯、1880年的加菲尔德、1900年的麦金利、1920年的哈定、1940年的罗斯福和1960年的肯尼迪——都在任内去世。许多作家都提到过这个巧合，但林肯和肯尼迪总统生活中的相似之处尤其不同寻常。

在这两位富有魅力的领导人的职业生涯中，可以看到许多惊人的相似之处。林肯在1846年首次当选国会议员，肯尼迪则在1946年；两人都为民权事业而努力。两位总统都遇刺身亡：林肯在1865年，肯尼迪在1963年。两人都是在任期的第一年被杀害的。接替林肯和肯尼迪的人——1808年出生的安德鲁·约翰逊和1908年出生的林登·约翰逊——都叫约翰逊。

此外，暗杀事件都发生在周五，且总统的妻子都在场。林肯有一位名叫肯尼迪的秘书，曾劝他不要在遇刺当晚去剧院。肯尼迪总统的秘书是一位林肯夫人，曾劝他不要访问达拉斯，而达拉斯最终成了他的遇刺地点。

这些相似之处有意义吗，还是只是巧合？也许如果人们早意识到他和林肯生活中的这些相似之处，肯尼迪可能会听从秘书的警告。