Unexpected Lincoln: A D.C. Bonanza

By Ed Epstein

Washington, D.C.

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

On my way to the Washington Nats' game last evening against the world champion Los Angeles Dodgers, I kept running into Abraham Lincoln, showing how ubiquitous he is not just in the nation's capital, but all across the country.

I went underground to my neighborhood Metro station, and there he was, being used in a law firm's ad. Surely, the firm figures, you can trust us if we use the image of Lincoln, who's generally rated as American's greatest president.

And about a half-hour later, as I was walking along busy Half Street to Nationals Park, I bumped into him again, this time in an ad for the local pizza chain that's called &pizza. They offer a "dead presidents club" to earn points toward free pizza.

And then a few minutes later, after I entered the ballpark, I came upon the 16th president yet again, this time posing with a fan. The super-tall Lincoln is one of the ballpark's "racing presidents." The others are Teddy Roosevelt, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington. The four participate in a zany race between innings. Abe won last evening.

They also make their way around the ballpark before, during, and after games, interacting with fans, although they aren't allowed to talk.

And even better, the Nationals won the game, 8-2 on a cold and blustery evening.

While it's not unusual to run into Lincoln's image in Washington, three times in less than an hour is quite unusual.

Photos by Ed Epstein

Photos by Ed Epstein