Robert Todd Lincoln

[Susan Higginbotham]

I just happened to reread one quite unobtrusive sentence in Jean Baker's Mary bio suggesting Mary Harlan had problems with alcoholism. In the notes, Baker just stated Robert, though never naming it, gave numerous hints, and there was strong evidence. Does anyone know more on this?

Baker's theory, which appears to be based on Mary Harlan's poor health and her reclusiveness, along with a remark by Mary Todd Lincoln about praying for her son's temperance, doesn't seem to have gained much acceptance among other historians. See the next to last paragraph here:

http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/rea...oid=871611

And here:

http://books.google.com/books?id=YmIuEAb...ic&f=false