A Finger in Lincoln's Brain

[LincolnMan]

Thanks Tom!
I am sitting here just glancing at topics in the book. I came across a paragraph that mentions what I would file under "unintended consequences." The author notes that if Mary Lincoln had not "humiliated Julia Grant, Grant's military escort would undoubtedly have prevented Booth from entering the vestibule." This entry is from page 59. The conclusion being, of course, that Lincoln would not have been shot that evening. That may be true. There were many circumstances that could have taken place that didn't that might have changed the course of that night. Personally, I don't want to lay that at Mary's feet- she had enough to contend with. I am not saying the author meant any ill-will either- but I can't speak for him. He also mentions that Charles Forbes never admitted to being the man sitting outside the box. That makes sense to me. Why would he intentionally admit to that/ given that history might blame him for not "protecting" Lincoln- simply because he was there- even though it wasn't his job.