Grant and Lincoln's invitation

[LincolnToddFan]

Laurie,

I've read enough of Little Miss Katie to know I would not have liked her, despite Doris Kearns Goodwin's almost starstruck gushing over her in "Team of Rivals".

Kate ended her days in circumstances almost as tragic as Mary Lincoln's.

Linda

I 100% agree with you on MTL. I defend her because I feel that when she is criticized by Lincoln scholars(usually male worshippers of Lincoln) there is not enough balance, not enough perspective, and the criticism by one "expert" in particular has crossed the line into obsession and misogyny. It's disgusting.

But when Mary was bad(as with the incident with the Sewards and later the notorious City Point incident) she was a nightmare. I cannot help suspecting that if she had lived her life as an emotionally healthy woman, she would have been remembered as one of America's great First Ladies. But I think-especially after the WH, she was truly not in complete control of herself.

Other than her husband the only person who truly understood her and could handle her was Lizzie Keckly.

In any case Mary paid for any sins she committed...any unkindness to others. The last 17 years of her life were one very long atonement.