The Lincoln Bible

[Gene C]

No truth to it in my opinion.

If you want to know more about Stanton, this is a good book that has been discussed on the forum.
http://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussio...ht=stanton

http://www.amazon.com/Stanton-life-times...in+stanton

Wild Bill is a fountain of knowledge regarding Johnson, Stanton and reconstruction.

[L Verge]

(07-27-2014 08:26 AM)marieandlouis Wrote:  Thanks Gene. I have read that Johnson wanted to get rid of Stanton because allegedly they were both in on the plot
to assassinate Lincoln and Johnson was afraid Stanton would reveal that Johnson was involved. So, Johnson fired Stanton. I wonder if there was any truth to that?

IMO, this is just another of those wild theories that people (especially lately with the 150th anniversary approaching) are concocting without primary source material to back it up. I expect this to get worse in 2015.

[STS Lincolnite]

(07-27-2014 08:26 AM)marieandlouis Wrote:  Thanks Gene. I have read that Johnson wanted to get rid of Stanton because allegedly they were both in on the plot
to assassinate Lincoln and Johnson was afraid Stanton would reveal that Johnson was involved. So, Johnson fired Stanton. I wonder if there was any truth to that?

I agree with the opinion others have posted - there is no merit to this idea (for a multitude of reasons).

From a common sense standpoint, if Johnson wanted Stanton to keep quiet about some sort of complicity between the two in something as monumental as a presidential murder, firing him from a job that he obviously wanted to keep doesn't seem to me to be a particularly effective way of ensuring his silence.

[LincolnToddFan]

I completely agree with you!

At this point, the only two characters who have NOT been accused of complicity in the president's murder are Taddie, and little Jip the dog!