The hole In the door

[RJNorton]

(09-17-2015 01:49 PM)Thomas Kearney Wrote:  The peephole was created for the security man to look in on Lincoln without interrupting, according to a Ford relative, and was made on a previous Lincoln visit to the theater according to the exhibit in the Lincoln Museum.

I remain on the fence whether or not Booth made the hole.

Here is the claim of Frank Ford, son of Harry Clay Ford:

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April 13, 1962

Dr. George J. Olszewski, Historian
Ford's Theatre
511 10th St. N.W.
Washington 25, D.C.

Dear Dr. Olszewski:

As I told you on your visit here in New York, I say again and unequivocally that John Wilkes Booth did not bore the hole in the door leading to the box President Lincoln occupied the night of his assassination, April 14, 1865, as "history" seems to think and has so many times repeated.

The hole was bored by my father, Harry Clay Ford, or rather on his orders, and was bored for the very simple reason it would allow the guard, one Parker, easy opportunity whenever he so desired to look into the box rather than to open the inner door to check on the Presidential party. As we know Parker left his post to view the performance from the dress circle.

My father would always "blow his top", to use today's slang, whenever he read or heard of this historical absurdity (who was it said "history is an implied lie?") and would often finish his vehemence by saying, "John Booth had too much to do that day other than to go around boring holes in theatre doors". And while it is true Mr. Booth might use "professional courtesies" to attend performances, it is laughable to imagine he had such free access to Ford's Theatre that he could perform feats of carpentry whenever he wished, to say nothing of doing it the very day the decision was made by President Lincoln to attend the performance at the Theatre.

My wife and I enjoyed your visit and hope to see or to hear from you again soon.

Best regards,

rr-
Frank Ford
255 West 90th St.
New York 24, N.Y.
TR 4-0745