Mary Lincoln Extra Credit Questions

[Anita]

Shortly after Lincoln's death, Mary read a biography she said was the most correct history of Lincoln ever written? Name the book and it's author.

[RJNorton]

"Life of Abraham Lincoln" by Josiah G. Holland?

[Anita]

Good choice Roger but it's not the one.

[RJNorton]

"The History of Abraham Lincoln and the Overthrow of Slavery" by Isaac Arnold?

[Anita]

Another great guess Roger but here's a hint that may help.

Mary wrote the statement that it was the most most correct history of Lincoln ever written, in a letter to Francis Bicknell Carpenter.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Henry J. Raymond's "Life of President Lincoln". Tad heard her making the "most correct history ever" remark to Robert and planned to save "all the little money you give me" for getting a copy (Mary had borrowed it). Robert then told him he would buy him one. (Just recently read this in "Lincoln's Sons".)

[Anita]

Yes Eva, it was Raymond's book she was referring to, with the title of "The life and public services of Abraham Lincoln ... together with his state papers, including his speeches, addresses, messages, letters, and proclamations, and the closing scenes connected with his life and death. By Henry J. Raymond. To which are added anecdotes and personal reminiscences of President Lincoln, by Frank B. Carpenter."

This book was published in August 1865. She read a borrowed a copy of the book in November of 1865. I found the information at http://quod.lib.umich.edu/j/jala/2629860...w=fulltext

You win a free online copy of this book at https://archive.org/details/lifepublicservic01raym

[Anita]

Mary Lincoln was never a fan of Andrew Johnson. What was she particularly upset about regarding Johnson in January 1866?

[LincolnToddFan]

Hi Anita!

I know that she never got over the spectacle he made of himself at the 2nd Inauguration, and she was convinced that he was complicit in the assassination.

But then he(along with some of his Cabinet I think) made a pilgrimage to Oakridge Cemetery to pay their respects at AL's grave. MTL felt it was "sacrilege" and she went berserk.

[Eva Elisabeth]

Thanks, Anita, especially for rewarding me with the entire book, as I've not answered one half of the question (the entire title) 100%!
As for this one - Mary also thought Johnson a conspirator, but I think it's not what you are looking for.

[Anita]

Here's what I was looking for. In January of 1866 Mary found out Johnson had been given a significant sum from Congress to refurbish the White House. She was furious. Mary believed that the money should have been hers since she hadn't been adequately compensated for the loss of Lincoln.

Hi Toia! Thanks for the post about Johnson upsetting Mary by visiting Lincoln's grave. I read up on Johnson's visit to Springfield which took place during his "Swing Around the Circle" speaking tour. Johnson left the capitol on Aug. 28, 1866. Among those in the Presidential party were Admiral David Farragut, George Armstrong Custer, Sec. Seward and U. S. Grant. This tour was a total disaster and worth reading about on it's own. Mary wasn't the only one he upset. "On several occasions, it also appeared that the President had had too much to drink, nearly stumbling from the platform. In the end, the campaign was a disaster for Johnson. One observer later said that the President lost one million Northern voters as a result of his tour." http://millercenter.org/president/biogra...-elections

[LincolnToddFan]

Oh yikes...I never heard that Andrew Johnson had hit the sauce on that tour like that...thanks Anita!

[RJNorton]

Fill in the blanks. Mary Lincoln was referring to whose death when she wrote the following?

"So poor ____________ ___________ is dead - I am very sorry to hear it - She was an amiable, inoffensive girl."

[Rogerm]

Was she talking about the death of Fanny Seward?

[RJNorton]

Kudos, Roger! That is correct. She wrote these words in a letter to Alexander Williamson on October 30, 1866. Williamson had been tutor to Willie and Tad during the White House years. Good job, Roger!