The buffet table at Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural ball stretched over 250ft. On the menu was oyster stew, leg of veal, venison, quail and six flavors of ice-cream. After the president and his party of cabinet members feasted, the rest of the guests were allowed in. They reportedly stormed the buffet table, and food got everywhere.
Six weeks later, at a hotel in Springfield, Massachusetts, the menu was more somber, with a black border printed around the items, which included turkey with cranberry sauce and cold lobster with lettuce. The date was 16 April, one day after Lincoln’s assassination.
