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December 21, 2022

The Washington Post Magazine: Comedy meets History at President Lincoln’s Cottage in D.C.

Two Faces Comedy Exhibit

A standup performance series salutes the playful spirit of the 16th president, known for his ‘really bad dad jokes’

By Eliza McGraw

A couple of hours before comedy night at President Lincoln’s Cottage, I learned from Callie Hawkins, the cottage’s programming director, that Lincoln’s sense of humor was “pretty self-effacing, and his jokes were really bad. Like, really bad dad jokes. But people laughed.” Soon, three comedians would perform in the cottage’s drawing room, in front of a fireplace and facing about 60 people primed for a playful evening. The event was part of a series called Two Faces Comedy, an allusion to a comment the 16th president reportedly made after a critic charged him with hypocrisy. “If I had two faces,” he said, “would I be wearing this one?”

The Lincoln Cottage — which is not really a cottage, but a 34-room country home that the Lincoln family used as a summer and fall retreat in 1862, 1863 and 1864 — stands on the grounds of the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Northwest Washington. The idea for the series came after Chris White, a presidential history lover and marketing director of the DC Improv comedy club, met with the cottage’s staff for a podcast. The first comedy evening was held in 2016.

Read the full article here 

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President Lincoln’s Cottage is a 501(c)(3) historic site and museum located in Northwest Washington, D.C. We provide interactive tours and exhibits, and host public and private events using Lincoln’s example to inspire visitors in their own path to greatness. Join us in learning and sharing brave ideas.

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