Lincoln was officially asked to join only 17 days before the ceremony , while Everett had received his invitation 40 days earlier . `` Although there is some evidence Lincoln expected Wills 's letter , its late date makes the author ( writer ) appear days was extraordinarily ( remarkably ) short notice for presidential participation even by nineteenth-century standards '' . Lincoln received formal notice of his invitation to participate only seventeen days before the ceremony , whereas Everett had been invited 40 days earlier : `` Although there is some evidence Lincoln expected Wills 's letter , its late date makes the author appear presumptuous ... Seventeen days was extraordinarily short notice for presidential participation even by nineteenth-century standards . ''