You have it backwards.... if you put the Lincoln first in line, you will find that all the other coins face him, because they respect him for his achievements (like an audience facing a speaker). Ha!
Franklin and SBA also face right but Kennedy and Ike face left. The SAC and Presidents on the dollar coins are facing forward. The new Jefferson nickels are also looking foward but somewhat eerily. I'm seeing little trend but it may just be me.
"The direction that Lincoln faces on the cent was not mandated—this was simply the choice of the designer." http://www.usmint.gov/about_the_mint/fun_facts/?action=fun_facts4 Christian
