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»

Heralds 'new phase' for Russia

(NEWSER) - Calling for a "single, united" nation, Vladimir Putin has begun his third term as Russia's president—a term set to make him Russia's longest-serving leader since Stalin. Following protests yesterday , Putin was sworn in at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow in a $664,000 ceremony. In a brief speech, he urged Russia to continue a "transformation" begun under Dmitry Medvedev, the BBC reports. The country is "entering a new phase of national development," he said. More»

Lincoln assassin even held a little gun

(NEWSER) - The gift shop at the Gettysburg Museum has had second thoughts about selling a novelty item some thought was a little tasteless: a bobblehead doll of John Wilkes Booth, complete with miniature gun. Museum officials pulled the dolls after the local Evening Sun wrote about them. The museum isn't saying much, but doll-maker BobbleHead is unapologetic. "We've made probably over a million bobbleheads and this is the first time it ever happened," says an exec. "So why change course? We've done Osama bin Laden." See the Sun link for an image of the doll. More»

On track for two-thirds of vote despite Russians' frustrations

(NEWSER) - It's a banner day for Vladimir Putin. He'll easily sail to victory in the March 4 presidential election, according to the final big pre-election poll: About two-thirds of voters are expected to get behind him. That means a landslide against his nearest rival, Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov, who is projected to win 15% of the vote. That means no run-off round. Still, frustration with the idea of six more years of Putin continues to simmer, the independent pollster says, according to Reuters . More»