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Gene C · 07-13-2016, 06:36 PM

(07-13-2016 04:09 PM)RJNorton Wrote: In 1988 an author was interviewed on the Today Show. He maintained that Mary Lincoln had syphilis which he felt she had contracted from Abraham. He believed this effected her brain. What was the author's name?

Gore Vidal?

L Verge · 07-13-2016, 06:56 PM

Has to be Gore Vidal in his Lincoln novel. Harold Holzer and Richard Current took Gore to task on many things he wrote in that book.

RJNorton · 07-14-2016, 03:38 AM

Kudos, Gene and Laurie. Indeed it was the late Gore Vidal. The date was March 26, 1988. Vidal was being interviewed by Jane Pauley.

I cannot think of a prize for this one, so I shall just wish you both a wonderful day.

RJNorton · 07-14-2016, 12:35 PM

Who said this about Mary Lincoln?

"I never in my life saw a more peculiarly constituted woman. Search the world over, and you will not find her counterpart."

Gene C · 07-14-2016, 04:50 PM

William Herndon?

L Verge · 07-14-2016, 05:26 PM

My first instinct was to say Hay or Nicolay, but I don't think they would have put it that nicely! Since we have been talking about Elizabeth Keckly, I'm going to go with her for the Daily Double.

RJNorton · 07-15-2016, 04:06 AM

You win the Daily Double, Laurie! Excellent. Yes, I did get the idea for this question because of the Elizabeth Keckly discussion in another thread.

RJNorton · 07-16-2016, 04:27 AM

Let's try one more. Who said this about Mary?

"Mrs. Lincoln had the insanity of madness and not the madness of insanity."

Gene C · (This post was last modified: 07-16-2016 05:53 AM by Gene C.)

I'm going to "double down" on William Herndon
... unless someone else said that.

RJNorton · 07-16-2016, 07:19 AM

You are right to be tenacious, Gene, as indeed it was Herndon.

You win a wonderful weekend.

Anita · 08-03-2016, 05:41 PM

Mary Lincoln was criticized by some in Washington society for not wearing black to a funeral. Who's funeral was it?

Eva Elisabeth · 08-03-2016, 05:48 PM

Edward Baker, and this reminds me of Laurie's post and point here:
http://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussio...-1742.html

Anita · 08-03-2016, 06:06 PM

That was fast Eva. Correct! I just read the link to Laurie's post. Great information on the wearing of lavender to funerals. I found this on http://www.mrlincolnswhitehouse.org/resi...1811-1861/

Baker’s funeral was held on October 24 at James W. Webb’s home. Mary Lincoln broke funeral convention by wearing a matching lilac-colored dress and gloves. She reacted angrily to criticism, saying: “I wonder if the women of Washington expect me to muffle myself up in mourning for every soldier killed in this great war?” In response to her friend’s suggestion that it might be appropriate to wear black, Mrs. Lincoln responded: “I want the women to mind their own business; I intend to wear what I please.”sup>13

I'm with Mary!

Eva you win a pair of lilac flip flops with a matching Swatch watch!

RJNorton · 08-05-2016, 06:00 AM

What is unexpected about this portrait?

Eva Elisabeth · (This post was last modified: 08-05-2016 08:22 AM by Eva Elisabeth.)

(08-03-2016 06:06 PM)Anita Wrote: Eva you win a pair of lilac flip flops with a matching Swatch watch!

Thanks, Anita! One color I love!

(08-05-2016 06:00 AM)RJNorton Wrote: What is unexpected about this portrait?

The Lincoln pendant?