Block, Siteadmin, SkipCaptcha, Upload, Automoderated users, delete, edit, Moderators, move, protect, rollback, Administrators
27,336
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 11:
Line 11: + + Line 17:
Line 19: − [[Image:Fords-Theater.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Ford's Theater; the black crepe went up almost immediately after Lincoln's death.]]
John Wilkes Booth (view source)
Revision as of 21:07, September 30, 2009
, 21:07, September 30, 2009→Plans against Lincoln
==Plans against Lincoln==
==Plans against Lincoln==
[[File:BoothBenefit.jpg|right|200px|thumb|The Booth brothers (''l-r'': John Wilkes, Edwin, Junius Jr.) used their name and talent to raise funds for the construction of a statue to William Shakespeare in New York City on November 25, 1864, when they appeared together in the play ''Julius Caesar'']]
[[Image:Fords-Theater.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Ford's Theater; the black crepe went up almost immediately after Lincoln's death.]]
Several times the Lincolns had viewed the performance of Booth, including the play ''The Marble Heart'' on November 9, 1863 at Ford's Theater. Mary B. Clay, a daughter to an American diplomat to Russia, saw this performance as well, and reflected that not all was well with Booth; indeed, she thought Booth meant to do the president harm:
Several times the Lincolns had viewed the performance of Booth, including the play ''The Marble Heart'' on November 9, 1863 at Ford's Theater. Mary B. Clay, a daughter to an American diplomat to Russia, saw this performance as well, and reflected that not all was well with Booth; indeed, she thought Booth meant to do the president harm:
:''In the theater President and Mrs. Lincoln, Miss Sallie Clay and I, Mr. Nicolay and Mr. Hay, occupied the same box which the year after saw Mr. Lincoln slain by Booth. I do not recall the play, but Wilkes Booth played the part of villain. The box was right on the stage, with a railing around it. Mr. Lincoln sat next to the rail, I next to Mrs. Lincoln, Miss Sallie Clay and the other gentlemen farther around. Twice Booth in uttering disagreeable threats in the play came very near and put his finger close to Mr. Lincoln's face; when he came a third time I was impressed by it, and said, "Mr. Lincoln, he looks as if he meant that for you." "Well," he said, "he does look pretty sharp at me, doesn't he?"'' (Helm, pg. 243)
:''In the theater President and Mrs. Lincoln, Miss Sallie Clay and I, Mr. Nicolay and Mr. Hay, occupied the same box which the year after saw Mr. Lincoln slain by Booth. I do not recall the play, but Wilkes Booth played the part of villain. The box was right on the stage, with a railing around it. Mr. Lincoln sat next to the rail, I next to Mrs. Lincoln, Miss Sallie Clay and the other gentlemen farther around. Twice Booth in uttering disagreeable threats in the play came very near and put his finger close to Mr. Lincoln's face; when he came a third time I was impressed by it, and said, "Mr. Lincoln, he looks as if he meant that for you." "Well," he said, "he does look pretty sharp at me, doesn't he?"'' (Helm, pg. 243)
===The assassination===
===The assassination===
On Friday, April 14, Booth learned that the president, his wife, and guests General [[Ulysses S. Grant]] and wife Julia would be attending the performance of [[Our American Cousin]]. Giving his men their orders, Powell was to kill Secretary of State [[William Seward|William H. Seward]] at his home, and Atzerodt was to kill Vice-President [[Andrew Johnson]] in his hotel room; Booth wanted the glory of killing Lincoln himself.
On Friday, April 14, Booth learned that the president, his wife, and guests General [[Ulysses S. Grant]] and wife Julia would be attending the performance of [[Our American Cousin]]. Giving his men their orders, Powell was to kill Secretary of State [[William Seward|William H. Seward]] at his home, and Atzerodt was to kill Vice-President [[Andrew Johnson]] in his hotel room; Booth wanted the glory of killing Lincoln himself.