Andrew Johnson - Mistress

[RJNorton]

(11-13-2017 06:19 PM)jparkuntz Wrote:  In late 1885, stories surfaced that a certain woman, Eusebia Fitzgerald, had been a mistress of Andrew Johnson, and that he snuck out his hotel the night of the assassination for an assignation with this woman.

Is it possible that Johnson was not alone in his room the night of the assassination, but the woman with him was Ella Starr and not Eusebia Fitzgerald?

Jerry Madonna postulates that Booth sent Ella Starr to "entertain" Johnson at the Kirkwood House the night of the assassination in A Threat to the Republic: The Lincoln Assassination Secret that Preserved the Union. In Jerry's theory, Booth sent Ella to Johnson's room as a "present" for a favor Johnson had done for Booth.

Johnson did not answer the door immediately when Wisconsin Governor Leonard Farwell rushed from Ford's to the Kirkwood House to tell Johnson that Lincoln had been shot. Here's the way Farwell told it:

"And then darting up to Mr. Johnson's room, No. 68, I knocked, but hearing no movement I knocked again, and called out with the loudest voice that I could command: "Governor Johnson, if you are in this room I must see you!" In a moment I heard him spring from his bed and exclaim: "Farwell, is that you?" "Yes, let me in." I replied. The door was opened, I passed in, locked it, and told him the terrible news, which for a time overwhelmed us both, and grasping hands, we fell upon each other as if for mutual support."

The fact that there was a delay in Johnson answering the door could conceivably mean he was not alone. Didn't Johnson have a suite of rooms at the Kirkwood House? The delay could be due to the woman needing time to gather herself and hide in another room before Johnson could answer Farwell. I realize there could be other reasons for the delay.

Several years ago I brought this up, and I admit there was not much support for the delay meaning Johnson had a woman in the room. But I thought I'd try again to see if anyone thinks it possible.

In the Johnson chapter of his book Through Five Administrations, William H. Crook (who was working at the White House when Lincoln was president) wrote, "Johnson had an amiable weakness for women, particularly for pretty women. Those of us who were on duty in corridors and anterooms saw many evidences of this fact."

I do not know if the woman was Eusebia Fitzgerald, Ella Starr, or someone else. But, IMO, it's possible Johnson had a woman with him when Farwell frantically ran from Ford's to the Kirkwood House and knocked on Johnson's door. And she was hiding when Farwell entered.