“Not an American Crime,” Freedom, Security and the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln

[RJNorton]

Many thanks to Kieran McAuliffe for sending this information:

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“Not an American Crime,” Freedom, Security and the Assassination of Abraham Lincoln

A Blue and Gray Education Society Civil War Field University Tour

August 11-15, 2015

This conference and set of tours is designed to take an in-depth look at Abraham Lincoln and the Presidency with regard to personal safety and his security during the turbulence of Civil War. With sectional tensions at a fever pitch, President-elect Lincoln arrived in Washington in February of 1861. Seven states had already seceded and the Confederate States of America had been formed. Much of the public blamed Lincoln’s election for the crisis–growing unrest and anger north and south took hold like a vice. In these unsettled times many questions began to arise: Should the President be guarded? By whom? Most importantly, was it absolutely necessary–a question in which Lincoln himself had some input as past presidents had not been protected.

The question was more pressing than it seemed, on his way to Washington to take his oath of office, he was the target of an assassination plot that compelled him to enter the capital in secrecy. As he bore the weight of Civil War and all it represented he continued to receive hate letters and death threats that he chose to ignore. The American public was accustomed to unlimited access to the president and the White House–at any time of the day or night individuals would come to curry favor or request government appointments or contracts. Often they would find Lincoln working alone without staff around.

All of this could easily have been mitigated except for the conduct of the President himself. Lincoln enjoyed his personal freedom–he would frequently leave the White House to walk and ride in the streets of Washington during the day and late at night. After Richmond fell, he traveled to the Confederate capital city and walked the streets practically unescorted. He rarely thought of his personal safety because he believed and had once said “assassination of public officers is not an American crime.”

This program is a real treat worthy of the Sesquicentennial Commemoration. We have selected August to take advantage of the Congressional recess and the President’s annual vacation. We have selected for our headquarters a spot not far from where Confederate general JEB Stuart captured a wagon train en route to Gettysburg on the Old Rockville Pike; BUT, with the Red Line Metro just two minutes from the rear door of the hotel. We hope you will join us.

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Presidential Security: A BGES Symposium

Today will provide a full day of speakers on Lincoln’s Washington including his retreat to the Soldier’s Home seven miles outside the city, the early plots to assassinate or kidnap the president and the dark and ultimately successful plot of John Wilkes Booth.

8:30 AM: Registration opens at the Hilton Rockville Executive Center. What a great way to start a very focused and meaningful week. Len Riedel and Gloria Swift will open the program at 9:30 AM with administrative remarks and an overview.

10:00 AM: Daniel Stashower: “Hour of Peril, the Secret Plot to Kill Lincoln before the Civil War” author of the book by the same name

11:15 AM: Security at Lincoln’s Inaugurals by Don Kennon, Historian of the US Capitol Historical Society

12:15-2:00 PM Break for lunch included

2:05 PM: “The Delicate Balance of Office, Home Life and Security in the Lincoln White House” by William Bushong, Historian of the White House Historical Society

3:20 PM: “Sic Semper Tyrannis” by Lincoln author and scholar Barry Cauchon

4:30 PM: “The Documents of an American Crime” by Karen Needles, Executive Director of the Lincoln Archives Digitalization Project

5:30 PM: Evening Recess

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Walking With Lincoln

10 AM: Meet us in front of the White House at Lafayette Park wearing your BGES Field University shirts which are included in your registration fee. The Metro is the best way to get downtown and McPherson Square is the closest Metro stop. At 1015 we will start a walking tour led by Ford’s Theater historian, Roger Powell. The tour will include Pennsylvania Avenue, Lafayette Park, the Executive Mansion, the Treasury, The Winder Building, War Department offices and the Blair House. The day will end with refreshments and a talk at the Willard Hotel. End time is flexible based upon access gained. Return to the hotel by your own means.

Note: We are attempting to arrange a tour in the White House and perhaps Blair House where Lee turned down command of the Union armies; however, security being what it is we must secure congressional sponsorship and face White House security screens. If we are able to gain sponsorship the cut off date for admission to these government secure buildings will be announced and you will be responsible for providing the appropriate documentation by the deadlines established by the US Secret Service. Early registration is the only route to possibly gain admission on those sites and no changes are permitted once the list has been submitted and approved by the Secret Service. Refreshments at the Willard Hotel are included. Lunch and dinner will be on your own. We will be on foot for at least 4 hours.

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Civil War Washington

8:30 AM: Board the bus for a trip downtown and stop at the Lincoln Memorial and drive past the Washington Monument, the South lawn of the White House, the Castle at the Smithsonian, the US Capitol, and Union Station before heading to Lincoln’s Cottage where we will discuss Lincoln’s life away from the White House and the Soldier’s Home. This stop will include a full escorted tour of this frequently overlooked but historically important site. Following lunch, which is included, we will head to Baltimore for a walking tour with historian Eric Martin to discuss Lincoln’s arrival in Washington and the secession sentiment that infected the city. Time permitting we will visit Booth’s grave. Lunch is included, dinner is on your own.

Friday, August 14th, 2015

Route to Infamy

8:30 AM: Booth’s kidnapping plan involved bringing Lincoln into the Confederacy where he could be ransomed for Confederate independence. The route was a long lonely and isolated one that involved co-conspirators facilitating the crime. Today we are going to trace the kidnapping plot and the key sites involved in squiring Lincoln to Richmond. That this same route became Booth’s escape after the assassination is understandable. We will cross into Maryland and visit the Surratt Tavern and Samuel Mudd’s home. After a late lunch, that is included, we will head back into Washington and dismount at the White House to discuss Lincoln’s last speech and the hard response of one very central figure. We will then return to the hotel for dinner on your own.

Saturday, August 15th, 2015

“Now He Belongs to the Ages”

The assassination and the rapid recrimination against those involved forms the central elements of this final day. The bus leaves the hotel at 8:30 AM en route to Ford’s Theater, here we will tour the facility and museum before being briefed by A. C. Richards, Chief of the Metropolitan Police who was an eyewitness to the events. We will then tour the Peterson House where Lincoln died on April 15th at 7:22 AM.

Finishing with Ford’s Theater, we will go to the NPS Museum Resources Center for a close up look at the artifacts NOT ON DISPLAY at Ford’s Theater–among them the blood stained pillow on which Lincoln expired. We will then head to Fort McNair–the Civil War site of the Washington Arsenal. Here we will spend a good portion of the afternoon at the site where the Lincoln conspirators were held, tried and executed. Historian John Elliott has done perhaps more research on the trial and facilities than anyone and he will lead our presentation and discussions. The bus will return to the hotel by 5 PM with the program concluded. Lunch will be included.


About the Faculty

Len Riedel is a retired Air Force officer and is the founder and Executive Director of the Blue and Gray Education Society, a position he has held since 1994. Holding a Master of Arts in History with an emphasis in Policy and Strategy, Riedel plans all BGES programming–over 350 tours in the past 21 years. He also conducts leadership training and facilitates preservation projects around the country. He personally conducts several tours each year as well. He is the historical consultant for a coming National Geographic Society Guide book for the sites of the Civil War due for publication in 2016.

Gloria Swift is the recently retired historian at Fort Pulaski National Monument. She also served as the curator of Ford’s Theater during its recent rehabilitation and addition of the expanded museum. She served many other jobs including as the historian at the newly created Monocacy National Battlefield.

John Elliott is a researcher and historian who has done considerable archeological and documentary work on the courtroom where the Lincoln Conspirators were tried and was instrumental in the restoration and interpretation of the site at Fort McNair.

Eric Martin is a historian for the National Park Service at Fords Theater

Roger Powell is also a historian for the National Park Service.

Daniel Stashower is the award winning author of Hour of Peril, The Secret Plot to Kill Lincoln Before the War

Don Kennon is the Vice President for Scholarship and Education for the US Capitol Historical Society. He has delivered numerous talks on the foundational history of the Capitol and the world changing events that took place there. He received his Ph.D. in American History from the University of Maryland. He is the editor or author of numerous books many of the antebellum period.

William Bushong is the historian and webmaster for the for the White House Historical Society. Dr. Bushong received his Ph.D. from The George Washington University and he has a full career in many various aspects of historical structures and their legacies for America. He is an author or contributor to several books most recently the National Geographic Society’s Inside the White House, Stories from America’s Most Famous Residence.

Barry Cauchon is a professional speaker with a passion for historical things and events. He worked closely with John Elliott to document numerous facts surrounding the conspiracy and assassination of Abraham Lincoln. He has a number of informative hits on the web.

Karen Needles is the driving force and Executive Director of the Lincoln Archives Digitization Project. Driven to put the archives of the Lincoln Administration on line and available to the public she has uncovered numerous documents related to Lincoln’s security and the assassination.

Hotel Information

This program is based at the Hilton Rockville Executive Center, 1750 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852 (301-468-1100). We have a block of rooms under the name of Blue and Grey Program at the rate of $109+ tax. This includes full breakfast each day and reduced parking of $8 per night. This block goes away July 20th and will not be available after that date. This is a high cost area; however, the hotel is conveniently located on the Washington Metro Red Line Twinbook Station a mere two minute walk to the hotel.

Transportation

The servicing airports are Washington Reagan (DCA); Washington Dulles (IAD) and Baltimore Washington (BWI). You may take the Metro from DCA and a metro link bus from IAD to Rosslyn Station to join the Orange line. Amtrak connects to the Metro at Union Station. Super Shuttle and various cabs and limo services can deliver you to and from the hotel.

Key Publications and Recommended Reading

You will be provided with a reading book and maps upon arrival.

The following books are suggested to enhance your readiness for the program.

All can be purchased when you register.

•Edward Steers. Blood on the Moon: The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
•Michael Kauffman. American Brutus: Johns Wilkes Booth and the Lincoln Conspiracies
• John F. Hartranft edited by Edward Steers and Harold Holzer. The Lincoln Assassination Conspirators; Their Confinement and Execution as Recorded in the Letterbook of John Frederick Hartranft
•David H. Donald. Lincoln
•Daniel Stashower. Hour of Peril, the Secret Plot to Kill Lincoln Before the Civil War
•Elizabeth Brownstein. Lincoln’s Other White House, The Untold Story of the Man and His Presidency

Registration

Registration includes four lunches, refreshments at the Willard Hotel, a reading book with maps, the academic program, all entry fees where appropriate, support of a professional historian and transportation appropriate to the registration and all admissions. It incudes a golf shirt for the walk in Washington on the 12th. We will also provide snacks, bottled water and a limited selection of sodas.

The program has high overhead costs associated with indispensible vendors, and an exceptionally robust faculty. The program is priced to break even with 20 registrations.

Important: Our ability to get access to the White House and perhaps Blair House will be dependent upon early registration and submission of the required security information. I suggest registration no later than June 1st. I cannot guarantee anyone admission to either the White House or Blair House but I can absolutely guarantee that registrations after the list has been submitted to the White House will not be able to tour those facilities–no adjustment to rates can be made for failure to register in time. Tours of key government buildings are subject to last minute cancellation or modification

Registrations after the list has been submitted to the White House will be advised that that portion of the program is not part of their package.

Register for this program online using our secure Sutler’s Tent ecommerce site: Register for Not an American Crime.

http://www.blueandgrayeducation.org/civi...can-crime/