Lincoln Letter to Boy on Sale for $60K

Embattled prez had more to deal with than Civil War

(NEWSER) - A handwritten note dated just a few days before Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address has finally made its way back to the National Archives, the Washington Post reports. The terse communication from the president to Treasury Secretary Salmon P. Chase addressed corruption charges against a Lincoln appointee. "Even though this item is seemingly routine, it is in fact very important," said an Archives official. More»

(NEWSER) - The tone of a letter from President Obama to Jacques Chirac has some in the blogosphere wondering if Obama knows that Chirac is no longer the president of France, writes Jimmy Orr in the Christian Science Monitor reports. “Doesn’t Obama ever consult his staff before acting?” one concerned blogger wrote. Tempting hypothesis, but no: Obama’s letter is simply a response to one from Chirac on behalf of his foundation. More»

Christian Wulff's exit a blow to Angela Merkel

(NEWSER) - Germany's president has stepped down after being hit with multiple corruption allegations. Though Christian Wulff's position is mostly ceremonial, his exit is nevertheless politically damaging to Chancellor Angela Merkel, Bloomberg notes. The chancellor had chosen Wulff to replace the previous president, who also resigned—just shy of two years ago. Merkel canceled debt talks with Italy's prime minister today over Wulff's exit. More»

22 Democrats sign letter to breast cancer charity

(NEWSER) - The outcry over the Susan G. Komen foundation's decision to cut Planned Parenthood funding has made its way to Capitol Hill. Some 22 Democratic senators—a large number for such an undertaking, notes the Plum Line blog at the Washington Post —have signed a letter calling on Komen to "reconsider its decision." More senators are expected to sign, and a GOP response would further escalate the battle. More»

Arizona governor drops plan to keep it under wraps

(NEWSER) - Jan Brewer has released the letter she delivered to President Obama in this week's chatter-generating showdown—and it doesn't contain much in the way of bombshells. "You've arrived in a state at the forefront of America's recovery—and her future," the handwritten note says, according to the Arizona Republic . "We both love this great country, but we fundamentally disagree on how to best make America grow and prosper once again. I'd love an opportunity to share with you how we've been able to turn Arizona around." More»