Early marriage and up to the White House

Others live on in a careless and lukewarm state-not appearing to fill Longfellow's measure: 'Into each life, some rain must fall.'  Mary Todd Lincoln.

   Mary Lincoln was profoundly in love with Abraham because of his intelligence, wit and charm, he was the same way. She had had many suitors, but settled on him. Abraham didn't feel as if he was good enough for her at one point, and broke off the engagement.  Both were miserable. There also was a duel fought that was over her, but neither would ever speak of it. Before courtship, Abraham was quoted as saying that, 'he wanted to dance with her in the worst way.'  The day after his marriage, Abraham told people that his new status was a 'profound wonder.'
    The day after his marriage, he was probably gone overnight because he had nine cases in Christian County courts, thus began their marriage. Mary was left to her own devices, which was taking care of the home and their growing family. By the 1850's, Lincoln's prominence grew. When Lincoln ran for office, his best adviser was Mary. He respected her judgment because she was very knowledgeable, plus her father had been involved in politics. When the White House drew near, her prominence dropped to the back row seat because of the war.
   However, that woman knew how to entertain and charm the skin off a snake, and boy did she. When he was gone for either the circuit court or campaigning, she worked the public by having 'salons', just like her kin through marriage, Dolley. Dolley had ice cream salon's or meals, Mary did the same. She also began dressing Abraham, otherwise he would've looked even more like a bedraggled backwoodsman, than he already did. He also began using his stovepipe hat as a safe place to put his letters, like a briefcase. However much that she'd refined him, it only went so far. Once when visitors came to the door asking for Mary, he said, "she'll be down after she gets her trotting harness on."
     That quote is a great indication of what caused her outbursts. She worked day and night to get her husband elected. In August of 1860, three months before the presidential election, parades began in front of their house. A photographer climbed to the second floor of Harriet Dean's house, across the street from the Lincoln's, and took that famous picture. Mary had opened the door, and people filed inside. The picture shows Tad upstairs, Willie is looking on, and Mary is elegantly dressed.
     It is unknown exactly what the Lincoln's did when they learned the outcome of the election. However, on November 6, 1860, Abraham had been sitting in the telegraph office in Springfield waiting for the results. When he learned that he'd carried Pennsylvania, he immediately went home, and said, "Mary, Mary, we are elected."