Too Much For Coincidence?
This story has been recounted many times but it is so unusual that it is worth looking at it again. It relates to the unusual high number of coincidences that occurred when US Presidents Lincoln and Kennedy were assassinated.
Abraham Lincoln was elected in 1860, one hundred years before JFK who was elected in 1960. Lincoln was succeeded by Andrew Johnson and JFK was succeeded by Lyndon Johnson, both Southerners. What makes it even more remarkable is that the two Johnsons were born in 1808 and 1908; one hundred years apart. To add spice to it, the assassins were also born one hundred years apart. Booth was born in 1839 and Oswald in 1939. And both died before going to trial.
They were both shot. Lincoln stopped his bullet in a theater and Booth was trapped in a warehouse. The Kennedy bullet came from a warehouse and Oswald was cornered in a theater. Lincoln was shot in Ford’s theater and Kennedy met his end in a Ford Lincoln.
To top it off, Lincoln had a secretary named Kennedy while Evelyn Lincoln was the secretary of JFK.
Is it too much for coincidence? Mathematicians say no. They claim that if you look hard enough, you will find such coincidences between any two events.
Well, now you also know why mathematicians are not that popular at parties; they can kill any mystery and generally make poor conversation.
Have a whale of a day and don't do anything that I won't do.
Comments (65)
From what I read, cruise missiles don't lose their way. Maybe you wre not give a destination yet.
Even more similarities. They were both men, presidents, married to women and by strange coincidence they both lived in the white house.
I am the mathematician.
If two strangers meet at the bus stop and discover that they celebrate their birth day on the same day, it is highly coincidental. However, if you have 400 people in a hall, it is not coincidence if some people were born on the same month and day because there are more people than days in a year. Even if there were 300 people in the hall, chances are good that some people will share a birth date. In fact, it will be coincidence none of the 300 people share a birth date. The chances are about 5 in 6 for at least 2 people sharing a birthday (disregarding the year).
The sheer numbers of the people on earth makes 'coincidences' highly probable.
They sure did!...
Had your siesta?
What is that?...
Sorry, I thought you spoke Spanish.
Still awake? Or is it time to get up?
help please. Teena has the giggles and has been laughing all day but she does not want to talk to me.
Where are you going at 4:00 am. In the morning?...
And now it is time to leave for Lala Land.
1:12 AM here.
Perhaps, bot not too soon. People get fed up very quickly.