JWB and Fame

[BettyO]

We've all heard the old story that Booth claimed at some point in his life to have proclaimed, "I must have Fame!" He later proclaimed "When I leave the stage, I'll be the most famous man in America!" There are various theories on this....including sibling rivalry with Edwin as well as a deep-seated psychological scar regarding his illegitimacy.

Just how much do you think all of this, in addition to his perceived "lust for fame" and perceived jealousy of Edwin possibly played in his desire to work for the Confederacy and subsequent assassination of Lincoln?

[Gene C]

After reading "My Thoughts Be Bloody", I would say that JWB's "lust for fame" played a major part in his thinking and actions on and off the stage. Nora Titone did a good job of telling you about the family. I do not remember her having much good to say about John. His father was a real piece of work too! Alcoholism seems to be a key factor in damaging this whole family. Any idea how prevalent alcholism was during this time period?

[BettyO]

After reading "My Thoughts Be Bloody", I would say that JWB's "lust for fame" played a major part in his thinking and actions on and off the stage. Nora Titone did a good job of telling you about the family. I do not remember her having much good to say about John. His father was a real piece of work too! Alcoholism seems to be a key factor in damaging this whole family. Any idea how prevalent alcholism was during this time period?

I agree, Gene. Titone's book is a good one; especially in looking at John Wilkes' possible problems....granted he probably did have some psychological damage, I think, due to the implications of his father's bigamy as well his and his siblings' illegitimacy, which carried a social stigma in the Victorian era. Yes there was a strong history of drinking problems within the Booth family and it has now been somewhat determined that a tendency towards alcoholism is genetic.

Alcoholism was prevalent in the 19th Century - much akin to what drug use is today. Yes, drug use was also active in the Victorian era as well - but it was misunderstood. The Sons of Temperance (where the term SOT derived from!) as well as other temperance societies were very much in evidence. Anyone could get a drink - even children. There were no laws enforced. The church (particularly during the reformation period of the Great Awakening and the Second Great Awakening) was extremely active in the attempt to deter alcoholism and promote alcohol reform.

[Laurie Verge]

I agree that Booth's "lust for fame" played a role in the eventual plotting against Lincoln, but I still believe that it was his strong convictions on politics, specifically republicanism (with a little "r") and constitutional rights, that got him so riled up from the very beginning of the Civil War.

As for his proclivity to drink, I don't see him any different than 85% of the men during the 19th century. Partaking of alcohol was prevalent, but that did not always lead to alcoholism - the two are totally different in my mind. I also tend to think that the rate of alcoholism was higher in the lower classes in America. I have often wondered how much of Junius Booth's "alcoholism" was really a streak of insanity coming through which was interpreted as him being an alcoholic.

My great-grandparents, the Huntts, who are a footnote in the assassination story, were temperance people. In those days, the family was part of the burdgeoning Methodist movement in Maryland. They belonged to a temperance group known as the Sons of Jonadab. Their youngest child, my grandmother, would touch nothing but wine to her dying day.

[J. Beckert]

I think Booth had a very inflated opinion of himself and what he could do for the Confederacy. A showboat, in my opinion.
I haven't finished Ms. Titone's book yet, but from what I've read about JWB and Edwin up to now, I really don't see an intense rivalry. Booth praised Edwin one time saying "He IS Hamlet. Melancholy and all." He went to visit Edwin in early April 1865 in Boston. Although the visit was short and there was still some tension, I don't see a bad relationship between them until the blow up they had after the Shakespeare fundraiser in Nov. 1864.

[Lindsey]

I hate when people ask if Booth was an alcoholic because usually they site the one instance that he was seen drinking a quart of brandy in two hours and that he was known to really be able to hold his liquor. As people have already said, attitudes towards drinking were different and I think there was probably a huge difference between Booth's drinking and George's, who said in his statement that Booth had told him to lay off the sauce.

[BettyO]

I hate when people ask if Booth was an alcoholic because usually they site the one instance that he was seen drinking a quart of brandy in two hours and that he was known to really be able to hold his liquor. As people have already said, attitudes towards drinking were different and I think there was probably a huge difference between Booth's drinking and George's, who said in his statement that Booth had told him to lay off the sauce.

It was reported that JWB's father, Junius, had a serious drinking problem - but I wonder, if as Laurie said, that it was a strain of mental illness as opposed to drinking - I remember in one instance, the elder Booth was locked in his dressing room so he would not get "juiced" prior to that night's performance. He had someone buy him some liquor and then a long straw which he was able to put through the keyhole and drink! I don't know if that's insanity or alcoholism - probably a bit of both!

I think that poor ol' George Atzerodt would get what is generally called "sloppy drunk" whereas if JWB imbibed, he could hold his liquor better -

[Linda Anderson]

I think that Booth was jealous of Lincoln's fame, especially when he listened to the people cheering at Lincoln's speech on the evening of April 11. Booth also admired the way John Brown went to his death in 1859 but Brown was an abolitionist for years before he was executed.

Booth wanted the glory for himself. He thought one bullet would supplant all the hard work Lincoln did for years. Booth didn't earn the kind of fame he desired and he realized that before he was shot in Garrett's barn.

[L Verge]

As an aside, Dr. Terry Alford sent me something from an 1883 Evening Star today on an unrelated note. However, right beside that item was an article about a Washington husband who had just gone to court to sue his alcoholic wife because he came home to find that she had sold his clothes and most of the furniture in order to buy alcohol! I thought it was ironic that I received this right after posting about my tee-totaling ancestors.

It's usually the stories of the poor women and children suffering because of the alcoholic husband (cue the violins). In this case, it's the man who is suffering.

Back on track - remember that one current historian wrote an article years ago on "Shakespeare Killed Lincoln," hearkening to the theme that the Booth family was so ingrained with the plays where the evil ruler is done in and the assassin gets the glory that JWB came to believe it always happened that way.

Also, Booth admired John Brown because the old man went to his death still believing that his actions were the right ones. He literally died for what he believed in.