O’Reilly, Bill and Dugard, Martin: Killing Lincoln

Bill O’Reilly was a history teacher for many years before taking on the world as a political analyst.  Martin Dugard is also a historian of wide renown. Together they have compiled an excellent review of the last days of both President Abraham Lincoln and his assassin John Wilkes Booth.  In novel format they have used letters and diaries of the people close to a number of central figures including several involved in the assassination plot as well as the doctors who attended the fallen President in his final hours.
 
President Lincoln visits the battle sites in Virginia and Maryland, even days after he has dreamed of his own death.  There are numerous times the highly recognizable President could have been assassinated during the days prior to his death.  John Wilkes Booth and his Southern-sympathizers have had an easy target.  Secretary of State Seward, Secretary of War Stanton, and Vice President Johnson all survive the night.  O’Reilly and Dugard follow Booth and one of his compatriots, John Herald, through the harrowing ride from Maryland to Virginia to the Garret farm.  
     
You will find this book on our biography shelves, or if it is checked out you can place your name on the wait list.

by Evelyn Rounds