Much has been written about Abraham Lincoln. Almost every account of him makes note of his tremendous sense of humor. Lincoln loved laughter. If he or anyone else could make him the brunt of any joke, all the better. He loved the sound of others laughing. Perhaps it was his simple ordinariness, which put people at ease. Often in conversation he would swing his long leg over the arm of the chair and speak in commonplace language. It was hard to be awed in the presence of Lincoln; he was approachable, human, and simple. He would use humor to disarm opposition, or gain good will. Humor was a safety valve for him. Otherwise, he would have been crushed by all he had to deal with daily.
