Could John Have Spared Mary

[L Verge]

I was invited to the Red Carpet Gala at Ford's Theatre when The Conspirator movie premiered there (and yes, I shook Robert Redford's hand, and he complimented the work we do at Surratt House). I remember so well the reaction of the audience at the close of the film. Frederick Aiken walks across the yard of the Penitentiary after visiting John Surratt, Jr. The words scroll up on the screen about how John eventually went free. I heard gasps and rumblings, and even one high-pitched female voice, "Oh, my god, NO!"

Former Secretary of State Madeline Albright was two rows in front of me and was agitated as she moved up the aisle. I would have loved to have asked Attorney General Eric Holder his opinion on the movie and the John issue. I had watched him stoically march through the lobby with three body guards before they let us peons take our seats. My personal thought was that there was not one ounce of warmth in that long, tall man (but I digress).

It would have sure been interesting to discuss the whole military court issue, the sentences, etc. with him, however -- especially with the Gitmo situation. When Gitmo started to fill up, I received a call from someone in the Department of Justice asking how they could locate material on the 1865 Conspiracy Trial. Boy, did I feel like a hot shot then - the DOJ was calling Surratt House!!!

Those memories were brought back to me today when a visitor at the museum asked the question that many of us have asked for years: If John had returned, would his mother have been spared?

Please share your thoughts, and then I'll share mine.