Doug, Hal Bush gave a very good presentation on Twain and Lincoln at the Elmira conference last week. You can also find some of Twain's thoughts on Lincoln online at the following: http://www.twainquotes.com/19070113.html http://www.twainquotes.com/19010212.html On Mrs. Lincoln at: http://www.twainquotes.com/18680301t.html As to Twain attending the Whitman speech in April 1887 -- I can find no evidence he attended from searching the major daily newspapers -- New York Times, Washington Post or Chicago Daily Tribune. All three papers printed long lists of the famous who did attend. These included some of Twain's colleagues--among them William Dean Howells, (the Chicago Daily Tribune reported that Howells was taking tickets at the entrance), Major Pond, John Hay, Lawrence Hutton, Richard Watson Gilder, Moncure Conway, and numerous others Twain knew. No major daily paper that I have access to in searchable format reported Twain in the list of those who attended. Barb