Robert Todd Lincoln --The vitals

[Susan Higginbotham]

Did Mary ever dispute Keckley's statement about the asylum? Offhand, I can't think of any motive for Keckley's inventing it.

I think it's also important to remember that Lincoln and Mary were grieving the same loss, and that Lincoln was managing to carry on with his public duties nonetheless while Mary was having difficulty even bringing herself to get dressed. Under those circumstances he might well have thought that Mary needed a jolt, and threatening her with the asylum might well have provided it.