Lincoln Discussion Symposium

Thanks, Donna. I did read the author's background and qualifications; certainly, she is writing from a rehab perspective and I do believe it's important to consider "motive" in an author's work, but she also holds a Ph.D in educational research. I just thought she raised some interesting points, especially about the wide-spread use of opiates by the medical community at the time. Since Mary Lincoln seemed to have had such ups and downs in her temperament, I just wondered if it was possible that opiates could have played a factor in her behavior and whether or not anyone had run across corraborating information. There's so much bunk floating around about the Lincolns and Mary especially, that is can be confusing to separate the fact from fiction. That's why I checked into the site. Thanks so much.

I have the Keckly book, which I am going to read now. Perhaps, there will be a clue in there. I'll get back to you.

To my knowledge, Mrs. Keckly makes no reference to Mary's medications - but it is a very good book! I wondered if there are any existing pharmacy bills among the Lincoln papers. I would suspect that Abe or Robert would have destroyed them, but just a shot in the dark.

Donna, Jason Emerson sure agrees with your analysis. The latest edition of the Lincoln Herald arrived today, and Jason didn't mince his words regarding The Addiction of Mary Todd Lincoln. He reviewed the book negatively, and closed his review by writing, "The book is good for a laugh but has no other purpose, and it certainly has nothing new or beneficial to offer the field of Lincoln studies."

(01-07-2013 06:53 PM)RJNorton Wrote: [ -> ]Donna, Jason Emerson sure agrees with your analysis. The latest edition of the Lincoln Herald arrived today, and Jason didn't mince his words regarding The Addiction of Mary Todd Lincoln. He reviewed the book negatively, and closed his review by writing, "The book is good for a laugh but has no other purpose, and it certainly has nothing new or beneficial to offer the field of Lincoln studies."

Yes, Roger he really didn't pull punches on that one...

(01-07-2013 08:52 PM)Mike B. Wrote: [ -> ]

(01-07-2013 06:53 PM)RJNorton Wrote: [ -> ]Donna, Jason Emerson sure agrees with your analysis. The latest edition of the Lincoln Herald arrived today, and Jason didn't mince his words regarding The Addiction of Mary Todd Lincoln. He reviewed the book negatively, and closed his review by writing, "The book is good for a laugh but has no other purpose, and it certainly has nothing new or beneficial to offer the field of Lincoln studies."

Yes, Roger he really didn't pull punches on that one...

I am glad that Jason and I are in agreement with this one.

I have just now gotten around to reading my copy of the Summer 2012 edition of The Lincoln Herald. Since Anne E. Beidler's book The Addiction of Mary Todd Lincoln is mentioned in this thread, please be referred to a review of it in The Lincoln Herald on page 134. The review is by Jason Emerson. Please pardon me if this has been cited already. Can't keep up with all the posts!

It certainly seems that Jason Emerson did not like the Beidler book! That's okay as I am trying to separate fact from fiction and reading each with a critical eye. No way implying that Mrs. L. was an opium fiend but there does seem to be a meeting of many minds on ML using chloral hydrate and laudenum (Baker, Clinton, sister Elizabeth, letters to doctors) and that her migraines plagued her throughout her life. Really good questions raised in an early reply by L Verge with regard to her caring for Tad, whether or not her sister Elizabeth and husband could have been oblivious to drug use, so I do appreciate that insight. Just trying to wade through all the material to present a balanced perspective. I know I will get questions at the end of the presentation, so I'd like to be as informed as possible.

I think I finally remember where I read about Mary Lincoln and a possible addiction to paregoric. I believe it was in the Mariah Vance book edited by Lloyd Ostendorf and Walter Oleksy. From what I've read, that book is not a reliable source, so please ignore my comment on paregoric.

Roger, that is interesting. So as far as you know, there has never been any other source about a possible addiction to paregoric? If it were found to be true somehow, it certainly would add more understanding-perhaps-to Mary's behaviors.

Bill, I have now checked some other books, and they all point to the Vance book as the source of the paregoric "addiction." Thus, it cannot be relied upon. However, I will keep looking.

Mr. James O. Hall's review of the Vance book is here.

Thank you for doing that Roger!

I did check out the Vance book, read reviews, and discounted it handily. Has anyone read the Retrial of Mary Lincoln from April 16, 2012, moderated by Scott Turow? Sitting on the first panel, among others, are Jason Emerson, Catherine Clinton, and Bennett Leventhal, MD. Very interesting, especially when Dr. Leventhal speaks of the diagnosis between bi-polar and melancholia. With regard to substances, all we can really do is look at the times and behavior. Laudenum and chloral hydrate were widely used by Mrs. Lincoln and that much is fairly accepted. Emerson, himself, in this transcript cites Mary's great niece in 1950 speaking of Mary taking too much paregoric toward the end of her life, although he does not think there is evidence to support the others. So, it's not just from the Vance book. The transcript is an enlightening read between historians, physicians and lawyers.

In reading through the postings on Mary Lincoln, I may have missed what I'm about to post:

Last fall, the Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission and the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum conducted two presentations of a re-trial for Mary's sanity. One was held in Springfield, while the other was in Chicago. Former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar narrated, while actors portrayed Mary and Robert.

The audience was the jury, and in both sessions, found that Mary should not have been committed.

I find this interesting, because as I've said before, I think that the winds of public opinion on Mary seem to be changing. It seems like those with some knowledge of Mary Lincoln are not as hard toward her as before.

No one is saying she was perfect, least of all me. But it does seem that people are more sympathetic to her plight than before.

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I have no idea what the **** in my earlier post means. I was not using inappropriate language, so I don't know why it's there. But the rest of the post shows what I'm trying to say.

Tom,

I've noticed that on the site it doesn't differentiate between benign uses of a word and it's more vulgar counterpart, which has on occasion been somewhat humorous.

Best
Rob