Lincoln was, by most accounts, an extremely indulgent father. Quite possibly, he attempted to give his children the type of affection he lacked in his relationship with his own father (their relations were so difficult that Lincoln did not attend his father’s funeral). Tad had the run of the Executive Mansion to such an extent that he was the only person who could stop his father from conducting business. Many evenings, Lincoln concluded a long day’s work by playing on the rug with Tad. His relationship with his eldest son, Robert Lincoln, was much more formal, however. No one knows the reason.