Abraham Lincoln is called a fool, just goes with it.

>In fact, his sense of humor greatly facilitated his sustained relations with the testy [Secretary of War Edwin M.] [Stanton](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Edwin_McMasters_Stanton_Secretary_of_War.jpg) and the pompous [Secretary of the Treasury Salmon P.] [Chase](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Mathew_Brady%2C_Portrait_of_Secretary_of_the_Treasury_Salmon_P._Chase%2C_officer_of_the_United_States_government_%281860%E2%80%931865%29.jpg). For instance, when a delegation, which he had sent to Stanton with orders to grant their request, returned and reported that not only had Stanton refused to do so, but had actually called [Lincoln](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ab/Abraham_Lincoln_O-77_matte_collodion_print.jpg) a fool for sending such an order, Lincoln, with mock astonishment, inquired: “Did Stanton call me a fool?” – and, upon being reassured upon that point, remarked: “Well, I guess I had better go over and see Stanton about this. Stanton is usually right.” ____________________________ **Source:** Thomas, Benjamin Platt, and Michael Burlingame. “Lincoln’s Humor.” *"Lincolns Humor" and Other Essays*. University of Illinois Press, 2002. 11, 12. Print. **Original Source Listed:** George W. Julian in *Reminiscences of Abraham Lincoln*, ed. Rice, 57. ____________________________ **Further Reading:** [Edwin McMasters Stanton](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwin_Stanton) [Salmon Portland Chase](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salmon_P._Chase) [Abraham Lincoln](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln)