Fortune's Fool

[L Verge]

I take it, you didn't care for the book? (I haven't read it)

This question, not just for Bill to answer.
How do you think it compares to "My Thoughts Be Bloody" by Nora Titone? (I did read and enjoyed this one)

l

I have read both books and thoroughly enjoyed both books. In ranking them, I would rank Fortune's Fool higher - mainly because I think his conclusions on what caused Booth's descent are based on more solid evidence and source material. And, unlike others, I saw Alford paint a more "patriotic" picture of Booth's political views vs. Lincoln's (and the Republicans') pursuit of large-scale, centralized government. I had to beat Wild Bill over the head in order for him to write Sic Semper Tyrannis to satisfy me. His line of thought on the change of government matches my own -- and I think Booth's as well.

Also, I cannot assign the title "racist" and "white supremacist" to John Wilkes Booth. First, those terms were not used until the 20th century, and second, such a description would define a very large percentage of the white population in the U.S. - North and South - in Booth's time. Let's just stick with "cultural differences."

As for Nora's theme, I can understand the theory of competition with his brother, but I'm not sold on the idea. I also have a nagging feeling (that I can't prove) that Nora's publisher may have made that a focal point above her original intent.

I still found her book very well done; and I was so delighted to see the way she handled our audience at the conference several years ago. Nora is young, petite, and very innocent looking -- until she starts to talk on the book. She had some of our old curmudgeons who love to give female speakers a hard time just sitting with their mouths open. And, she could give back (sweetly and firmly) as good as they could throw questions at her.

[asobbingfilm]

Forgive me if anyone has already posted this, but I had to share it. Boothies are taking over, look out !!

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/14/books/...chers.html

[asobbingfilm]

Thought this was a great article. A friend of mine sent this to me today.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/14/books/....html?_r=0

[L Verge]

Here's what I got today from the author. I think you might know my reaction...

http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/20...lkes-booth

[LincolnToddFan]

OMG! What is with the American fascination with digging up our famous dead folks to have a look and "test" them?? We did it to poor Zachary Taylor. We did it to Lee Harvey Oswald. We did it to Medgar Evers. Every now and then there is an urgent request to dig up JFK.

Maybe RTL had the right idea after all when he had his father's body encased in cement!

Does any other country do this for the purpose of "testing"?

[L Verge]

I think that DNA has become a toy to attract publicity. We learned at the Baltimore trial in the 1990s that a few distant relatives of the Booths were forced into sanctioning the suit against Green Mount Cemetery for the right to dig up JWB - spurred on by two theorists and a lawyer who wouldn't give up. One theorist is still at it.

I decided to behave myself with this email and just respond back with a thanks for sending and good luck with the book sales (a novel). I wanted to ask what earthly good it will do after 150 years, other than to satisfy a few people's curiosity.

Even if some miracle occurred and a government cover-up could be proven, what good would it do? We can't turn back 150 years, and we can't hold the present generation of people and leaders guilty for what happened back then? Should we start a revolution or anarchy in order to protest against cover-ups or sloppy investigative work in 1865?

[LincolnToddFan]

Proof of a cover-up in 1865 will only give people more of an incentive to hate and mistrust the "gubment" than they already do!

[L Verge]

Proof of a cover-up in 1865 will only give people more of an incentive to hate and mistrust the "gubment" than they already do!

I wholeheartedly agree, and we have enough reason to keep a close check on our officials today without having to scrape together a plot from 150 years ago.

[Gene C]

Proof of a cover-up in 1865 will only give people more of an incentive to hate and mistrust the "gubment" than they already do!

I wholeheartedly agree, and we have enough reason to keep a close check on our officials today without having to scrape together a plot from 150 years ago.

We have the checks, but something is out of ballance
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/41...ona-charen

[LincolnToddFan]

Proof of a cover-up in 1865 will only give people more of an incentive to hate and mistrust the "gubment" than they already do!

I wholeheartedly agree, and we have enough reason to keep a close check on our officials today without having to scrape together a plot from 150 years ago.

AMEN.

[Susan Higginbotham]

Here's what I got today from the author. I think you might know my reaction...

http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/20...lkes-booth

Did Baker really confess at the end of his life that he had helped Booth escape, as claimed by the author? It seems rather unlikely.

---

OMG! What is with the American fascination with digging up our famous dead folks to have a look and "test" them?? We did it to poor Zachary Taylor. We did it to Lee Harvey Oswald. We did it to Medgar Evers. Every now and then there is an urgent request to dig up JFK.

Maybe RTL had the right idea after all when he had his father's body encased in cement!

Does any other country do this for the purpose of "testing"?

Over in the UK, the remains of Richard III were found beneath a parking lot, and were tested thoroughly before being reinterred with great ceremony this March. There are now plans to search for the body of another king, Henry I.

[STS Lincolnite]

Here's what I got today from the author. I think you might know my reaction...

http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/20...lkes-booth

Did Baker really confess at the end of his life that he had helped Booth escape, as claimed by the author? It seems rather unlikely.

I have a suspicion that this "evidence" (Baker's confession, etc.) comes from the secret code that Ray Neff supposedly discovered in an item he claims once belonged to Baker. I would suggest reading Ed Steers' book Lincoln Legends: Myths, Hoaxes, and Confabulations Associated with our Greatest President for more information about that particular piece of information, alternative theories, their deconstruction, and how they really don't seem to stand up to methodical scrutiny.

[Susan Higginbotham]

Here's what I got today from the author. I think you might know my reaction...

http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/20...lkes-booth

Did Baker really confess at the end of his life that he had helped Booth escape, as claimed by the author? It seems rather unlikely.

I have a suspicion that this "evidence" (Baker's confession, etc.) comes from the secret code that Ray Neff supposedly discovered in an item he claims once belonged to Baker. I would suggest reading Ed Steers' book Lincoln Legends: Myths, Hoaxes, and Confabulations Associated with our Greatest President for more information about that particular piece of information, alternative theories, their deconstruction, and how they really don't seem to stand up to methodical scrutiny.

Thanks! I have an old biography of Baker, Death to Traitors, and it certainly doesn't mention any such confession.

[Gene C]

I seriously doubt the "I helped Booth get away" supposed confession by Baker. He was to interested in claiming the reward money. Nothing much for him to gain financially by helping Booth escape. More fame and fortune for him to catch and kill Booth.

The writer of the above article is more interested in promoting his upcoming book than anything else. He convinced me of this in his paragraph, "After extensively researching the case, I firmly believe that, no matter what the truth ... Before Baker died he flat out confessed he helped the assassin get away."

I agree with you Scott and Susan.

[RJNorton]

Thanks to Bob Cook for sending this information:

Book TV: Terry Alford, "Fortune's Fool"

Terry Alford, history professor at Northern Virginia Community College, recalls the life of John Wilkes Booth; from his childhood in Maryland to his acting career and his assassination of President Lincoln on April 14, 1865.

Airing Saturday, Aug 01 11:00pm EDT on C-SPAN2

http://www.c-span.org/video/?326706-1/bt...tunes-fool