Robert Todd Lincoln, son of Abraham Lincoln, was born in Springfield, Illinois. He was the first of four sons born to the Lincolns and the only one to reach manhood. He watched his father rise to great prominence and later rose to great prominence himself.

Abraham Lincoln and his wife enjoyed playing with the boys in their home. Frequently Lincoln took them on walks about the city or on fishing trips along the Sangamon River. Unfortunately Lincoln was a circuit-riding lawyer, who had to spend many weeks at a time away from home practicing law.

Once, when Lincoln was away, Mrs. Lincoln decided to surprise him by having a second story built on the house. The boys could hardly wait to see what he would say and do. When he came home, he exclaimed, "Excuse me, friends, but I'm Abe Lincoln, and I'm looking for my house."

Young Bob Lincoln was very proud of his father and eager to never let his father down. One of his most embarrassing moments was when he lost his father's inauguration speech on the way to Washington, D. C. Fortunately the important speech was recovered and Bob was greatly relieved.

Bob's life in the White House was more or less hectic. The War between the States was in progress and both his father and mother faced grave responsibilities. Much of the time he was away attending school at Harvard, but later he became a captain under General Ulysses S. Grant in the Union army.

A few days after Bob returned home from war, his father was assassinated. He could scarcely believe that his father was dead. There and then, realizing that he was no longer a President's son, he vowed that no matter what might lie ahead in his life, he would never fail his father's trust.

Young Robert Lincoln returned to Chicago with his mother, completed his study of law, and became an outstanding international lawyer. He served his government as Secretary of War and Minister to Great Britain. For many years he was president of the mammoth Pullman Company in Chicago.

The author of this book, LaVere Anderson, is a well-known author of books for children. She has painted an intimate picture of the Lincoln family, both during the happy days in Springfield, Illinois, and during the troublesome years in Washington, D. C. Most of all, she has shown what it means and how it seems to be a President's son. 

From the dust jacket