Robert Todd Lincoln

[Eva Elisabeth]

I just happened to reread one quite unobtrusive sentence in Jean Baker's Mary bio suggesting Mary Harlan had problems with alcoholism. In the notes, Baker just stated Robert, though never naming it, gave numerous hints, and there was strong evidence. Does anyone know more on this?

[L Verge]

Maybe that was the reason that she went to live with her parents at some intervals -- to get her out of the Lincoln limelight?

[Susan Higginbotham]

I just happened to reread one quite unobtrusive sentence in Jean Baker's Mary bio suggesting Mary Harlan had problems with alcoholism. In the notes, Baker just stated Robert, though never naming it, gave numerous hints, and there was strong evidence. Does anyone know more on this?

Baker's theory, which appears to be based on Mary Harlan's poor health and her reclusiveness, along with a remark by Mary Todd Lincoln about praying for her son's temperance, doesn't seem to have gained much acceptance among other historians. See the next to last paragraph here:

http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/rea...oid=871611

And here:

http://books.google.com/books?id=YmIuEAb...ic&f=false

[Eva Elisabeth]

Thank you, Susan. So it is most likely a theory Jean Baker herself enunciated?
For such a serious and negative claim she should give some precise evidence, e.g. examples of the hints Robert gave in her opinion.

[Gene C]

Thanks Susan, for posting such an interesting article.

[L Verge]

I believe that Mary Harlan Lincoln was a great supporter of the growing Christian Scientist denomination of that era. The followers of that faith do not condone alcoholism. That is not to say that some don't slip from time to time and pray to recover their health, but Mrs. Robert Lincoln's devotion to the practices of the Christian Scientists would seem to discount Dr. Baker's assertions.

[LincolnToddFan]

I agree Laurie. I do not believe she had any issues at all with drinking.

But she was certainly a strange woman...remote and mysterious like some languishing queen. I get the distinct feeling from reading about her that she was probably a hypochondriac who was not above claiming illness to get out of attending things and seeing people she didn't want.

[L Verge]

I agree. I'm not necessarily a fan of Robert Lincoln, but I do have sympathy for him with having to deal with two contrary Marys in his life.

[LincolnToddFan]

LOL!!

The two Mary's were a cakewalk compared to his youngest daughter, the beautiful wild child Jessie...at one point RTL and his wife actually locked her in her room to keep her from eloping with an aristocratic ne'er-do-well athlete named Warren Beckwith. But she "escaped" anyway and married him. Of course it was a disaster, and was only the first of many romantic misadventures for Jessie Lincoln. (The Last Lincolns: The Rise and Fall of a Great American Family, auth. Charles Lachman)

Poor Robert. I'm surprised HE was not the one with rumors of alcoholism.

[Susan Higginbotham]

I wonder if Mary Harlan suffered from some sort of anxiety disorder that got worse with time and made her reluctant to mingle with anyone but family and close friends. In his biography of Robert, Jason Emerson mentions that her mother was an invalid as well, so perhaps she had a hereditary condition--or a learned one.

[LincolnToddFan]

Good point, Susan. The Harlans seemed like a very close family, and Mary H. often left Robert to nurse her mother. They also had a son named Willie who died young, devastating the family. Just like the Lincolns.

[RJNorton]

I wonder if Mary Harlan suffered from some sort of anxiety disorder that got worse with time and made her reluctant to mingle with anyone but family and close friends.

Susan, I also agree with this possibility. Possibly she suffered panic attacks and insecurity in larger social situations.

[L Verge]

That very likely could be the case. Also, I recommend Charles Lachman's book to our readers. We had him speak at a Surratt conference several years ago, and he was very interesting.