Lincoln-Lyle Lovett Link
In preparing an image of Abraham Lincoln1 to illustrate a post at AlignMap.com,2 I realized that this particular view of Lincoln, one of my favorite presidents, demonstrated a significant resemblance to one of my favorite singer-songwriters, Lyle Lovett.3
Bonus – The Lyle Lovett Penny
In searching for other Lincoln images, I found no portraits or photos that showed the similarities to better effect, but I did run across the 4 reverse sides of the 2009 redesign of the Lincoln penny, one of which is formally designated “Formative Years in Indiana,” which I’ve revised to “Lyle Lovett Between Gigs.”4
The 2009 Lyle Lovett Penny
Bonus #2 – The Provenance Of The “How Many Legs Does The Dog Have” Anecdote
In the AlignMap post mentioned above, the Lincoln picture was used because the post revolved around a quotation attributed to Lincoln that anyone who has attended more than a handful of sermons, motivational talks, or political gatherings has heard. It usually goes a little something like this:
Lincoln is confronted with a difficult situation in which the decision depends on the interpretation of a linguistic nuance. Lincoln listens to the arguments, then asks the individual pressing him hardest for a response how many legs a dog would have if one called the dog’s tail a leg.
The questioner, apparently the only person in US history who has reached adulthood without having been confronted with this kind of trick question, suspects nothing, does the mental arithmetic, and answers “5.” Lincoln then sagely observes that no, the dog still has four legs because – here it comes – calling a dog’s tail a leg doesn’t make it a leg.
Because Lincoln, along with Benjamin Franklin and Yogi Berra, are the standard fall-backs for those attributing quotes, there are many pithy proverbs and political pontifications that are undeservedly associated with Honest Abe. Consequently, I wondered if the provenance of this quote as one originating with Lincoln was verified.
It turns out that it is and – you know what’s coming – it isn’t. The story behind the 4-5 legged dog story is worth reading can be found under the heading, “The Tangential But Arguably Interesting Issue Of Provenance,” in the referenced post on AlignMap.com: If Compliance Changes To Adherence In The Forest Of Medical Literature, …
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- This specific graphic is located on several sites. I happened to find it first at Delaware Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission [↩]
- AlignMap.com is my web site and blog which focuses on adherence by patients to their medical treatment. The post referenced is If Compliance Changes To Adherence In The Forest Of Medical Literature, … [↩]
- OK, how many of you were surprised to find I am capable of associating the term, “singer songwriter,” with someone other than Leonard Cohen? [↩]
- The penny redesign information and graphic were found at the 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial One Cent Program on the US Mint’s web site. [↩]
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