Mary's Reputation

[Tom Emery]

Roger, I absolutely think her Confederate relative ties had something to do with her negative perception.

Confederate Brig. Gen. Benjamin Hardin Helm, who married Mary's half-sister Emilie, was killed at Chickamauga, and Mary had others in Southern service as well. Emilie, as you all know, spent a great deal of time at the White House afterward, where she remained vocal in her Southern leanings.

I've always said the myth of "Brother Against Brother" in the Civil War was kind of overrated, but it certainly applies to Mary Todd's life.

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Roger & Herb, I should also mention that I agree with earlier postings about Herndon's role. Rob and Roger are right -- you can't put it all on Herndon. But I certainly think he played a key role in the poor perception of Mary.

Mary, obviously, didn't help herself, with her temper and her emotional imbalances that helped build some enemies. I think there are several factors, and Herndon is among them, as well as her Confederate relatives.