Assassination

[Anita]

There was an opportunity, but it didn't happen. The Grants were traveling in France at the same time Mary was living there. Jean Baker writes, "Then Ulysses and Julia Grant came to Pau and snubbed Mary Lincoln." The author goes on to write that, "Later Julia Grant explained her failure to call on a White House predecessor as a mistake, though it was more likely her repayment for past slights."

Julia Grant wrote, "The night before we left [Pau] we learned that Mrs. Abraham Lincoln was there and I was very very sorry we had not learned this sooner, as it was now too late to make her a visit. We could not at this late hour change our plans."

Thanks Roger. The slights must have gone pretty deep to have been in Pau and not at least sent a note. Julia also couldn't change her plans to attend the play. If the Grants had been there the night of the assassination, Gen. Grant may have had more guards with him. But what ifs don't change history.