h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog. There, mired to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death. The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman's sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved.

"I want to repay you," said the Nobleman. "You saved my son's life."

"No, I can't accept payment for what I did," the Scottish farmer
replied, waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer's own son came to the door of the family hovel.

"Is that your son?" the nobleman asked.

"Yes," the farmer replied proudly.

"I'll make you a deal. Let me take him and give him a good education. If the lad is anything like his father, he'll grow to a man you can be
proud of."

And that he did. In time, Farmer Fleming's son graduated from St. Mary's Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known
throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin.

Years afterward, the nobleman's son was stricken with pneumonia. What
saved him? Penicillin. The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph
Churchill. His son's name? Sir Winston Churchill.

Is this for real?!? If it is, that's an even better story than the one about the similarities between Lincoln's and Kenedy's assinations!

So is it true Merkin? What is the one about the assassinations Jimi X?

Soz Peta, my blessed Wintel crashed in the midst of my post in a fit of post-Y2K depression...

Anyway, the circles are something like, Kennedy had a secretary named Mrs. Lincoln while Honest Abe hand a secretary named Mrs. Kennedy. Both had Vice Presidents named Johnson. Kennedy was shot from a warehouse and his killer was arrested at a theatre, Lincoln was shot in a theatre and his killer was caught in a warehouse.

There's more to it, I'll look it up and get back to you (If you really want to know!)

- X

OK, so you didn't ask for it....

Abraham Lincoln ran for Congress in 1846.
John F. Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946.

Abraham Lincoln was elected President in 1860.
John F. Kennedy was elected President in 1960.

The names Lincoln and Kennedy each contain seven letters.

Both were particularly concerned with civil rights.

Both wives lost a child while living in the White House.

Both Presidents were shot on a Friday. Both were shot in the head. Lincoln was killed
in Ford's Theatre and Kennedy was killed while riding in a Lincoln.

Both were assassinated by Southerners.

Both assassins were known by their three names.

Both names compromise fifteen letters.

Both were succeeded by Southerens named Johnson.

Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln, was born in 1808.

Lyndon Johnson, who succeeded Kennedy, was born in 1908.

The names Andrew Johnson and Lyndon Johnson each contain thirteen letters.

Booth and Oswald were assassinated before their trials.

Both were slain in the presence of their wives.

Both Presidents had legality of elections contested.

Both served in the U.S. Senate.

Lincoln and Kennedy were carried in death on the same caisson.

Both were married in their thirties to women in their twenties.

In 1860, Lincoln was elected president with less than 50 percent of the vote over
Steven A. Douglas, born in 1813. In 1960, Kennedy was elected president with less
than 50 percent of the vote over Richard M. Nixon, born in 1913.

Lincoln was younger than his vice president, Andrew Johnson, a southerner born in
1808. Kennedy was younger than his vice president Lyndon Johnson, a southerner born
in 1908.

Lincoln was the first president to be assassinated in office, while Kennedy was the last.

Kennedy and Lincoln were both shot by men in their twenties.

Weird, eh?