AN INTERVIEW WITH JEFFERSON DAVIS

[Thomas Thorne]

Excellent Article Jerry!!

The interview was obviously conducted before the fall of Atlanta which occurred on the same day the article was published. I have never been a Jefferson Davis fan but comparisons to Hitler's psychological state seem extreme. Lincoln was certainly feeling very pessimistic about his reelection chances at the time and he famously if privately predicted his defeat would doom the Union.

The most startling revelation to me about the interview was Davis' statement "I was of some use to[my slaves.] They never were any use to me.''

Such self deception plays a very large part in our affairs and only a very small part of it can be attributed to mental illness.
Tom