Lanky Link: Abraham Lincoln's many losses along the way to the White House

By Jack Brummet, Presidents Editor

• When he was 22, his business failed. 
• At age 23, he lost a bid for U.S. Congress. 
• The next year, another business he started went under.
• Finally at age 25, he was elected to the state legislature. 
• When he was 26, his girlfriend died. 
• At 27, he had a nervous breakdown. 
• When Lincoln was 29, he was beaten in the race for the post of Speaker of the House Illinois legislature. 
• When he was 31, he was defeated as an Elector (you, know - the electoral college). 
• At age 34, he was beaten when he ran for congress, 
• When he was 37, he ran for Congress once again and won, but, alas, two years later, he was not re-elected.  When he was 46, he ran for the Senate and lost. 
• The next year year, he ran for Vice President and lost. 
• At the age of 51, he was elected President of the United States.

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