Presidential Assassins

[Laurie Verge]

Death to Traitors is one of my favorites - maybe because it references Mrs. Surratt

[LincolnMan]

I've heard of the book but don't own it nor have I ever read it. What is it's basic premise?

[Rob Wick]

I'm not a big fan of Mogelever's book. He comes at it with a confirmed bias in favor of Lafe and Byron Baker and has absolutely no footnotes. It's not a complete waste, but it is very close.

Best
Rob

[Gene C]

While it does present Lafe & Byron in a more favorable light, it also brings up the difficulty of trying to run the war in a city with so many having southern sympathies. Corruption is rampant, and it takes hard people to do the dirty work of perserving the union. He seemed to be no respecter of persons, and would arrest almost anyone. I found of great interest a chapter titled "the Great Treasury Investigation", an investigation initiated by Secretary Chase. The author wrote "the Treasury's own police, seemed helpless to stem the tide of debauchery. Clerks were making off with sheets of uncut currency". And there is more... Unfortunately, there are no footnotes, and much of the information seems to come from newspapers of the day, and old unpublished letters in family collections. I am not aware of any other book that covers Baker's life as well as Mogelever's, even though it has its shortcomings. I have a little higher opinion of it than Rob, but I don't want to take on the job of challenging or defending its acuracy.

[LincolnMan]

Thanks so the information! I have actually found a copy for sale that has the authors signature. If nothing else, I may purchase it just to have in my collection. I'm sure you all understand.

[Gene C]

Great, I think you will find it interesting.