Mary Todd Lincoln's faux pas (plural), worse, and much worse

[LincolnToddFan]

What Tad said that night was preternaturally wise, and so unlike the spoiled brat that has so often been described by history.

So far, we have had three first hand accounts of the president's speech. The Marquis's, Noah Brooks, and Clara Harris. And by the way I also read Elizabeth Keckly's memoirs so that is in fact FOUR first hand accounts of people who were there who make no mention of Mary Lincoln and her friends drowning out the president that night.

This leads me to agree with Eva's opinion. One of Mrs. Lincoln's many detractors either embellished or made up this incident as a "pile-on" to the already bad publicity she was receiving in 1867. Burlingame decided to believe this obscure, unflattering Mary Lincoln story and use it in his book, which should surprise no one.

As far as suing for libel, not only was it rarely done in those days but she probably took a page from her late husband's book and decided to simply ignore all the slanderous things that were said and written about her. After all, this was a woman who-among many other things-had been accused of passing military secrets to Confederate spies from her bedroom window!

ETA: Eva...thank you for mentioning the Wilma Minor letters. They were so hilariously cornball...God forbid such tripe ever came out of the mouth of the man who penned the Gettysburg Address! And yet people fell for it hook, line and sinker!