Extra Credit Questions

[RJNorton]

Yes, indeed, Bill. I thought of this question because of Linda's post on the statue. Author Stefan Lorant included images of Lincoln's head on other men's bodies in his book "Lincoln: A Picture Story of His Life." The other images included Martin Van Buren, Andrew Jackson, Francis Blair, and John C. Frémont. According to Lorant, these engravings made their way into countless American homes, and people either didn't mind or notice the deception as there was a sudden demand for Lincoln images after the assassination. Publishers needed to put out prints in a hurry, and to alleviate a shortage of Lincoln prints, they just used available engravings of other bodies and put Lincoln's head on them.

[Linda Anderson]

Interesting observation about Fanny's dress, Laurie. Mrs. Seward was raised as a Quaker. Maybe that had something to do with Fanny's plain dress and hair.

In her diary from Jan 1863, Fanny writes in admiration of Kate Chase, the belle of Washington, who wore her hair, "in contrast to the absurd fashions just coming in. She always wears it all but plainly back in a simple knot or bow behind..." Here is a photo of Kate Chase.

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[L Verge]

Lovely Kate, the nemesis of Mary Lincoln.

[LincolnMan]

Very interesting history Roger! Imagine the head of Lincoln on a Jackson body-strange pairing considering their political differences. Yet there is a Lincoln-Jackson connection that comes to mind-young Lincoln was made postmaster at New Salem during the Jackson administration. Also, which room/office in the White House where Lincoln conducted business- had a portrait of Jackson above the mantle?

[Craig Hipkins]

I cannot remember the room where the portrait of Jackson was located, but I believe it was in his office. Lincoln, if I recall, actually admired Jackson for the way he handled the problem with South Carolina back in the 1830s. Like you said, Bill, they sure did have political differences.

Craig

[RJNorton]

Prior to the assassination some "carpentry" had been done to door 7 of the presidential box and to the vestibule in the back. Most books say Booth was the person who did the carpentry. Some books note that it was done by Harry Clay Ford or a Ford's Theatre employee.

But one man claimed he saw John Surratt doing it. What was this man's name?

[Joe Di Cola]

This is a really challenging one, Roger! My answer is: Theodore Benjamin Khodes (not sure of the spellling) acording to sworn testimony he gave at the trial of John Surratt.

[RJNorton]

You are absolutely correct, Joe. Indeed it was a clock repairman named Theodore Rhodes.

You win one free night in the State Box at Ford's Theatre. For my part, I have arranged for a mattress to be placed in the box for you. All you need to do is contact the good folks at Ford's, tell them you got this question right, and make your reservation.

[Joe Di Cola]

Is it haunted and should this worry me?

[Laurie Verge]

Staying there is not going to be that easy, Joe! They have drastically changed policies recently. The Surratt House now has to procur a permit ($50) to get in before 9 am for our Booth Tours, purchase "free" tickets ($2.25/person) ahead of time even with the permit, and pay $53/hour each time to have a Park Ranger come in one hour early to open the door for us - even though they have a security guard 24/7.

That is a sign of the economic times, I suppose - but what a let-down after 37 years and over 300 tours with no fees and no hassles. But, we will absorb the cost because it's a must-see site.

I suppose one good thing about the new permit is that, if approved, it gives us the right to demonstrate and protest on a wide variety of topics while we're at Ford's - at least that's what the Special Use Permit Application says... LOL!

[Joe Di Cola]

Good! Then you can protest if they ever allow any of Bill O'Reilly's books to be sold at the site---LOL.

[Laurie Verge]

There are two gift shops at Ford's Theatre - one run by the Park Service, and the other run by the Ford's Theatre Society (the arts branch that technically takes over the theatre after 5 pm each night for live performances). When O'Reilly's book came out, the National Park Service refused to sell it, but the Theatre Society's gift shop said that they would sell it.

This is my personal opinion only, but frankly there are worse books out there on the Lincoln assassination that are being sold in a variety of NPS sites and others without any qualms whatsoever. Again, my personal opinion strictly, but the mid-1900s work by Otto Eisenschiml (which is still available) and the 1970s debacle titled The Lincoln Conspiracy, and the recent works by Ray Neff have done more to damage the story than O'Reilly's book -- and that's saying something, because I'm not a fan of Killing Lincoln (although I did enjoy his first two chapters).

If someone other than the inflammable Bill O'Reilly had been credited as writing the book (say, his co-author who likely did 98% of the writing), I wonder if there would have been so much flap over the errors???

[Joe Di Cola]

(08-22-2012 01:43 PM)Laurie Verge Wrote:  There are two gift shops at Ford's Theatre - one run by the Park Service, and the other run by the Ford's Theatre Society (the arts branch that technically takes over the theatre after 5 pm each night for live performances). When O'Reilly's book came out, the National Park Service refused to sell it, but the Theatre Society's gift shop said that they would sell it.

This is my personal opinion only, but frankly there are worse books out there on the Lincoln assassination that are being sold in a variety of NPS sites and others without any qualms whatsoever. Again, my personal opinion strictly, but the mid-1900s work by Otto Eisenschiml (which is still available) and the 1970s debacle titled The Lincoln Conspiracy, and the recent works by Ray Neff have done more to damage the story than O'Reilly's book -- and that's saying something, because I'm not a fan of Killing Lincoln (although I did enjoy his first two chapters).

If someone other than the inflammable Bill O'Reilly had been credited as writing the book (say, his co-author who likely did 98% of the writing), I wonder if there would have been so much flap over the errors???

You are so right about there being a gaggle of bad books out there about the assassination. I am no fan of O'Reilly (and have only ever read one of Dugard's books and that was on Columbus's last voyage), but have also wondered if a lot of the antipathy is connected to the former's persona and sometimes disregard for journalistic integrity (in which he is not alone, I might add!). That is why I am so very happy that Roger started this site, and also am happy to be in contact with people who care about history. Thanks for your comments, Laurie.

[Laurie Verge]

What amazes me with O'Reilly as an author is the fact that he and his "co-author(s)" can put together such a book in six months' time! And, have it published by a reputable firm such as Henry Holt Publications! Even Killing Kennedy is out there now - just a few months after it was announced that it would be O'Reilly's next book.

In my 37 years at Surratt House, I have come in contact with quite a few published authors. It takes most reputable scholars years and years to conduct research, analyze it, write, undergo peer review, and find a publisher. This team spits out books faster than pregnancies and gets heaps of publicity.

When it was announced that they would be writing Killing Lincoln, it was right on the heels of The Conspirator movie. I told my staff that I bet they were riding Redford's coat tails and also to expect Mary Surratt's picture to be on the cover. How many books on the assassination do you see Mary featured on the cover -- I can only think of three right off the bat (Trindal, Larson, and Steers). Sure enough, there she was on Killing Lincoln.

Now Killing Kennedy is out about six months after the announcement that it was being worked on. I'm just surprised that they didn't wait to release it until November of 2013 in order to get publicity from the 50th anniversity observances of the President's death. If nothing else, you have to give O'Reilly, Dugard, and the Holt Company credit for knowing how to work the publicity system.

[LincolnMan]

Forum members: As Roger brought up the subject of Booth and carpentry-here is a question: did Booth create the hole in the box door?