Presidential Assassins

[RJNorton]

Hi Ashley. Jason Emerson, a member here who has written numerous books, put a lot of research into this. Robert was in the White House when his dad was shot. With respect to the Garfield assassination Jason found that Robert was "about forty feet away."

Regarding the McKinley assassination, Jason found that Robert Lincoln's secretary in Chicago had sent a telegram with the news to the train station in Buffalo. An employee of the train station handed the telegram to Robert as he stepped off the train. So when the actual shooting took place earlier in the day Robert was on the train to Buffalo.

It was interesting to see all the stories Jason came across as he researched the exact location of Robert when the shots were fired in Buffalo. He found all of these accounts:

1. He was on the train.
2. He was just off the train at the Buffalo station.
3. He had just entered the grounds of the Pan-American Exposition.
4. He was in the crowd in front of the Temple of Music.
5. He was inside the Temple of Music.
6. He was within hearing of the shots.
7. He was standing near the president.
8. He was within sight of the shooting.
9. He was simply nearby.

Like you I have come across Robert's quote about "presidential functions," and I do believe it's accurate and not apocryphal.