Through Five Administrations

[LincolnToddFan]

Thanks Roger, that is indeed something to think about. And I agree that it's the element of surprise that cost AL his life.

AL's only chance would have been if Forbes had actually announced JWB to the president before escorting him into the Box. AL would almost undoubtedly have stood up to receive him and I don't see the much smaller, probably slightly intoxicated Booth taking him on to his face. AL was much older than JWB but he was also 100x stronger. With AL towering over him, Booth would have had to fire into his chest or abdomen and use his knife against both Parker and Rathbone...which would have lessened his chances of both fatally wounding Lincoln AND escaping intact.

And I have to believe that in the final analysis Booth was a coward. He would not have dared to attack the "tyrant" without a sure plan of escape for himself.