Career
Upon their father"s election as President, Willie and Tad moved into the White House and it became their new playground. Willie and Tad became ill in early 1862. While Tad was not as badly affected, Willie"s condition fluctuated from day to day.
The most likely cause of the illness was typhoid fever, which was usually contracted by consumption of contaminated food/water.
The White House drew its water from the Potomac River, along which thousands of soldiers and horses were camped. Finally, on Thursday, February 20, 1862, at 5:00 p.m., Willie died.
Abraham said, "My poor boy. God has called him home.
I know that he is much better off in heaven, but then we loved him so much.
lieutenant is hard, hard to have him die!"
Both parents were deeply affected. His father did not return to work for three weeks. Willie"s younger brother, Tad, cried for nearly a month because he and Willie were very close.
Lincoln generated no official correspondence for four days.
Mary was so distraught that Lincoln feared for her sanity. Willie was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Georgetown.
After his father"s assassination in 1865, Willie"s casket was exhumed and he was moved to a temporary tomb. Mary Todd Lincoln was later buried in the same tomb.