GENES OF LINCOLN

WHEN STEVEN SPIELBERG ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTION TO MAKE A MOVIE ABOUT THE LIFE OF THE ABRAHAM LINCOLN, TOM HANKS WAS IMMEDIATELY TOUTED AS THE PERFECT PERSON TO TAKE THE LEAD ROLE. HOWEVER, TOM DECLINED THE ADVANCE - A STRANGE RESPONSE CONSIDERING THE TWO SHARE GENES- TOM'S BLOODLINE DIRECTLY LINKS HIM WITH NANCY HANKS (ABE'S MOTHER). HANKS IS CURIOUSLY RETICENT ABOUT ELABORATING ON HIS POSITION ON THIS PARTICULAR FAMILY TREE. WE KEEP THAT QUIET, SAYS TOM, BUT IT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE.