April 14, 1865: why did the Lincolns have guests?

[Jim Garrett]

I think the answer is very simple regarding the guests. After four long years of war, Lincoln wanted to celebrate with the man that he may have felt was the only one who could bring closure to the war. It would be a somewhat private celebration, but would be shared with those at Ford's. I seems that the relationships with the chief executive was much more casual and may have been so with many chief executives back in the 1800's.