Mr. Barr,

Thanks for posting, and I hope we hear more from you. I skimmed through your blog quickly and realized that I am out-of-date on my readings (and will probably never catch up). As a member of the board of advisers of The Lincoln Forum, I remember quite well a slight furor of about a dozen years ago when Lerone Bennett was invited to talk at the annual meeting in Gettysburg. I was pleased that the executive board took the stance that Lincoln students needed to hear all sides of the story.

Mr. Bennett was an interesting speaker/preacher (that's how I interpreted his presentation - more of the old-time revival manner of delivery) and held the audience's attention. The audience was also courteous enough to hold their tongues! In many ways, he said things that needed to be said (as has Thomas DiLorenzo) in order to attempt to get different views and interpretations on Lincoln the man, the politician, the American, and a product of his times. Whether or not one agrees with anti-Lincoln positions, one should consider them and their value to history.

BTW: I noticed from your blog that your Master's thesis was on the Lincoln assassination. I hope you can offer some views on that from time-to-time.

(05-14-2014 01:56 PM)jmbarr Wrote:  This is John McKee Barr, the author of Loathing Lincoln. I'd be pleased to hear your questions, and comments (all positive, I'm sure), on my book. I'll be checking in from time to time, and if no one objects, I'll post the link to the discussion on my blog, http://www.loathinglincoln.com. And, thanks for taking an interest in my work. I appreciate it. I hope you like the book.

Hi Mr. Barr, thanks for joining us!

I have ordered your book and I can't wait to read it. I do promise to write a review on Amazon as soon as I have finished it. It sounds like a very interesting book indeed-

(05-14-2014 02:50 PM)L Verge Wrote:  Mr. Barr,

Thanks for posting, and I hope we hear more from you. I skimmed through your blog quickly and realized that I am out-of-date on my readings (and will probably never catch up). As a member of the board of advisers of The Lincoln Forum, I remember quite well a slight furor of about a dozen years ago when Lerone Bennett was invited to talk at the annual meeting in Gettysburg. I was pleased that the executive board took the stance that Lincoln students needed to hear all sides of the story.

Mr. Bennett was an interesting speaker/preacher (that's how I interpreted his presentation - more of the old-time revival manner of delivery) and held the audience's attention. The audience was also courteous enough to hold their tongues! In many ways, he said things that needed to be said (as has Thomas DiLorenzo) in order to attempt to get different views and interpretations on Lincoln the man, the politician, the American, and a product of his times. Whether or not one agrees with anti-Lincoln positions, one should consider them and their value to history.

BTW: I noticed from your blog that your Master's thesis was on the Lincoln assassination. I hope you can offer some views on that from time-to-time.

Believe it or not, that was actually the first Lincoln Forum I ever attended (the one where Lerone Bennett spoke). I mention it in one of the endnotes in my book. And, I think you are correct to note that was a good decision to invite him. I think we can all be a little insular in our thinking if we are not careful. As for my writing on Lincoln's assassination, it was a narrowly defined topic (M.A. Thesis) on how Texans responded to his death (many were quite happy Lincoln had been killed, but worried too now that Andrew Johnson was his successor).

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(05-14-2014 10:36 PM)LincolnToddFan Wrote:  

(05-14-2014 01:56 PM)jmbarr Wrote:  This is John McKee Barr, the author of Loathing Lincoln. I'd be pleased to hear your questions, and comments (all positive, I'm sure), on my book. I'll be checking in from time to time, and if no one objects, I'll post the link to the discussion on my blog, http://www.loathinglincoln.com. And, thanks for taking an interest in my work. I appreciate it. I hope you like the book.

Hi Mr. Barr, thanks for joining us!

I have ordered your book and I can't wait to read it. I do promise to write a review on Amazon as soon as I have finished it. It sounds like a very interesting book indeed-

Well, thanks! I hope you enjoy it and learn from it.

"As for my writing on Lincoln's assassination, it was a narrowly defined topic (M.A. Thesis) on how Texans responded to his death (many were quite happy Lincoln had been killed, but worried too now that Andrew Johnson was his successor)."

Boy, are you and Bill Richter of this forum going to enjoy conversations on the Texans and their reaction to Lincoln's assassination, and I'm sure, the spill-over into Reconstruction because that is Bill's particular specialty. I believe he has written extensively on it. Word of warning: Bill will tell you right up front that he is "unreconstructed."

He knows, Laurie, we exchange several e-mails on that already.

Bill, do you know if what happened during reconstruction had any impact on the Marshall Plan in Europe and the rebuilding of Japan following WWII?

Mr Barr, my husband saw the ad for your book on Amazon and told me there was a new book out called Loathing Lincoln. That's a great title so I read the info on your book. It sounds fascinating and I am looking forward to reading it.

(05-15-2014 12:21 PM)Linda Anderson Wrote:  Mr Barr, my husband saw the ad for your book on Amazon and told me there was a new book out called Loathing Lincoln. That's a great title so I read the info on your book. It sounds fascinating and I am looking forward to reading it.

Thanks Linda. I hope you enjoy the book. I'm looking forward to discussing it with this forum.

Marshall Plan and Reconstruction I know nothing about