>>> PREVIOUSLY ON "LINCOLN:
DIVIDED WE STAND". >> LINCOLN DOESN’T START OFF AS
AN ARDENT ABOLITIONIST. OVER TIME HE CHANGES.
>> THE WAR BECOMES A WAR TO ABOLISH SLAVERY.
>> THE WAR ENDS ON APRIL 9th, 1865.
>> GRANT OFFERS A VERY GENEROUS SET OF PEACE TERMS.
THE SOLDIERS WILL BE PARDONED. >> LINCOLN HAD NO STOMACH FOR
RETRIBUTION. >> LINCOLN WANTS TO WIN THE
PEACE, AS WELL AS WIN THE WAR. ♪
>> RIGHT AFTER, LINCOLN APPEARS AT THE WINDOW OF THE WHITE HOUSE
AND ACCEPTS THE APPLAUSE OF WELL WISHERS.
>> CROWDS ARE GATHERED AROUND THE WHITE HOUSE.
THERE ARE BANDS PLAYING. THERE IS JUBILATION EVERYWHERE.
AND LINCOLN SAYS, LET’S HEAR DIXIE.
>> SOMEONE IN THE AUDIENCE SAYS, THAT’S A CONFEDERATE SONG.
HE SAYS, NO, WE WON IT FAIR AND SQUARE.
TAD EVEN WAVES THE FLAG THAT HE BROUGHT BACK FROM THE FRONT.
>> THE WAR WAS OVER, BUT WHAT WAS THE POLITICAL FALL‐OUT OF
THAT? >> CONGRESS APPROVED THE 13th
AMENDMENT. BLACK PEOPLE ARE NOT LEAVING THE
COUNTRY. AND, SO, WHAT IS THEIR FATE
GOING TO BE AS AMERICANS
? >> ON APRIL 9th, 1865 ROBERT E.
LEE SURRENDER EFFECTIVELY BRINGS THE CIVIL WAR TO AN END.
IN THE FOUR YEARS OF BRUTAL VIOLENCE, NEARLY 800,000
AMERICANS LOST THEIR LIVES. DESPITE THE RELIEF AND
CELEBRATION VICTORY BRINGS, THE COUNTRY HAS SAID A HEFTY PRICE,
WHICH WEIGHS HEAVILY ON THE PRESIDENT.
>> LINCOLN CLEARLY INTERNALIZED WHAT THE LOSS OF LIFE IN THE
CIVIL WAR MEANT FOR EVERY FAMILY, EVERY HOUSEHOLD.
YOU SEE IT IN HIS FACE. >> LINCOLN AT THE TIME HE WAS
LIKE THE PRESIDENT. HE’S 51.
HE LOOKS LIKE A YOUNG MAN. FOUR YEARS LATER, HE LOOKS LIKE
YOUR GREAT GRANDMOTHER. >> LINCOLN KNEW IN A WAY THAT
WAS UNIQUE AMONG THE GREAT WAR MAKING LEADERS THE CONSEQUENCES
OF THE WAR HE MADE. >> BUT NOW PRESIDENT LINCOLN
MUST REUNITE A SHATTERED COUNTRY AND INTEGRATE FOUR MILLION FREED
AFRICAN‐AMERICANS INTO A RACIALLY DIVIDED SOCIETY.
>> THE WAR IS DONE. PEOPLE ARE WAITING FOR A GREAT
TRIUMPHANT SPEECH FROM ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
BUT TWO DAYS AFTER, HE DOES SOMETHING A LITTLE BIT MORE
COMPLEX. HE GIVES A SPEECH THAT TURNS
INTO A CONVERSATION ABOUT THE CHALK
CHALLENGE OF RECONSTRUCTION. HE SAID WE NEED TO HAVE A
NON‐IDEOLOGICAL APPROACH TO RECONSTRUCTION.
HE GOES FURTHER ON ONE ELEMENT THAN HE’S EVER GONE BEFORE.
HE SAYS HE BELIEVES THAT BLACK PEOPLE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO
VOTE, AT LEAST THOSE THAT HAVE SERVED IN THE ARMED FORCES AND
THOSE WHO ARE VERY INTELLIGENT. BY WHICH WE MEANT ‐‐ WE ASSUME
HE MEANT LITERATE. >> FROM A GUY WHO WAS NOT AN
ABOLITIONIST, WAS NOT REALLY PURELY ANTI‐SLIVERHFANTI‐SLAVERY
DOING MUCH ABOUT IT AND HE ENDS UP SAYING MAYBE BLACKS COULD
VOTE, THAT IS EXTRAORDINARY. >> THERE WAS ONE PERSON IN THE
AUDIENCE WHO DID RECOGNIZE HOW REVOLUTIONARY THAT NOTION THAT
WAS, AND THAT WAS A CHARISMATIC YOUNG ACTOR NAMED JOHN WILLINGS
BOOTH. BOOTH SAYS, THAT MEANS N‐WORD
CITIZENSHIP. AND THEN BOOTH VOWED TO KILL HIM
ON THE SPOT OR SOON THEREAFTER. >> BOOTH IS A HUGELY SUCCESSFUL
LEADING MAN, VERY POPULAR AMONG WOMEN.
HE’S ALSO A MARYLANDER, A SOUTHERN STATE, SO HE HAS THIS
HATRED FOR BLACKS AND THIS SENSE OF WHITE SUPREMACY.
ALTHOUGH THE CONFEDERACY HAS BEEN DEFEATED, HE’S STILL
COMMITTED TO SOUTHERN VICTORY. >> BOOTH IS NOW WHAT WE WOULD
CALL A RACIST TERRORIST. HE HAD HEARD LINCOLN PROMISE TO
ENFRANCHISE BLACK VETERANS, AND THAT IS SOMETHING HE CAN’T LET
HAPPEN. >> BUT HE HAD NO PLAN UNTIL
APRIL 14th, 1865. IT HAD ACTUALLY BEEN PUBLISHED
IN THE NEWSPAPERS EARLIER THAT DAY THAT THE PRESIDENT AND MRS.
LINCOLN WERE EXPECTED AT FORD’S THEATER.
>> IT TRIGGERS A MULTI‐PRONGED PLOT TO KILL LINCOLN AND HIS TOP
CABINET MEMBERS ALL ON THE SAME NIGHT.
>> BOOTH BELIEVED THAT IF HE COULD ELIMINATE THE CHIEF
FIGURES IN THE ADMINISTRATION THAT SOMEHOW THE SOUTH MIGHT
STILL PREVAIL. >> BOOTH AND HIS CO‐CONSPIRATORS
GATHER IN A DARK TAVERN TO CHOREOGRAPH THREE SIMULTANEOUS
MURDERS. THE PLAN IS FOR BOOTH TO KILL
LINCOLN AT FORD’S THEATER. GEORGE TO SHOOT THE VICE
PRESIDENT AND JOHNSON. AND FOR LOUIS POWELL AND DAVID
HAROLD TO MURDER THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
>> BOOTH IS OPERATING OUT OF A KIND OF MISGUIDED, SLIGHTLY
PSYCHOTIC URGE TOWARDS SELF‐DRAMATIZATION ON BEHALF OF
THE SOUTH TOWARD TYRANNY. >> BOOTH WAS GIVEN GRANDIOSITY.
HE THINKS WHEN I LEAVE THE THEATER, I’LL BE THE MOST FAMOUS
>>> AFTER YEARS EMBROILED IN CIVIL WAR AND TRAGEDY, ABRAHAM
LINCOLN IS FINALLY ABLE TO BEGIN TO REPAIR THE WOUNDS THAT THE
PRESIDENT HAS INFLICTED ON HIS MARRIAGE.
>> LATE IN THE DAY ON GOOD FRIDAY, 1865, LINCOLN TAKES A
CARRIAGE RIDE WITH MARY. AND THEY START TO THINK ABOUT
PLANS FOR AFTER HIS SECOND TERM IS OVER.
>> IT HAD BEEN TOO SAD DURING RECENT YEARS TO THINK ABOUT THE
FUTURE. AND NOW THEY COULD TALK ABOUT
THEIR PLANS. HE SAID THAT HE WANTED TO
TRAVEL. >> THIS MAN WHO SUFFERED SO
COULD IN THAT MOMENT FIND SOME JOY AND FIND SOME HAPPINESS.
>> THAT’VENING, THE LINCOLNS HEAD TO FORD THEATER TO ENJOY A
COMEDY WITH FRIENDS. >> AS LINCOLN GETS TO THE BOX,
THERE IS A MURMUR BECAUSE PEOPLE SEE HIM.
>> ALL 1,600 PEOPLE ROSE TO THEIR FEET AND STARTED
APPLAUDING THE PRESIDENT. >> THE ORCHESTRA CONDUCTOR TELLS
HIM, PLAY HAIL TO THE CHIEF. AND ABRAHAM LINCOLN REMOVES HIS
HAT, LOOKS DOWN AT THE AUDIENCE AND BOWS TO THEM.
>> LINCOLN HAD BEEN PRETTY CLOSELY GUARDED FOR THE ENTIRE
WAR. BUT WHEN THE WAR ENDED, THE
VIGILANCE EASED. AND EVERYONE LET THEIR
COLLECTIVE GUARD DOWN. >> MARY WAS SITTING THERE WITH
LINCOLN. THEY WERE WHISPERING IN ONE
ANOTHER’S EAR. THEY WERE LIKE A YOUNG COUPLE.
AND SHE SAID TO HIM, PEOPLE CAN SEE.
WHAT WILL THEY THINK OF US? AND HE SAID, THEY WILL THINK
NOTHING OF IT. AND THEN A MAN ENTERED THE BOX.
>> LINCOLN SIMPLY SLUMPS IN HIS CHAIR.
HIS HEAD FALLS FORWARD. >> MARY, WHEN SHE SAW THE BLOOD,
BEGAN SCREAMING. >> THE MAJOR GETS UP AND
WRESTLES WITH BOOTH. BOOTH YELLS FREEDOM AND CUTS HIM
DEEP WITH A KNIFE. THEN BOOTH LEAPT OFF ON TO THE
STAGE. >> HE LANDS UNEVENLY.
AT THAT MOMENT, BOOTH CRIES OUT, IT IS I, JOHN WILKES BOOTH, WHO
SLAIN THE TYRANT. AND THEN HE YELLS, THE SOUTH IS
AVENGED. HE RUNS OFF THE STAGE.
HE GOES TO THE RAND VIEWPOINT. >> LOUIS POWELL ATTACKED WILLIAM
SEWARD, BUT HE SURVIVED. GEORGE WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO KILL
ANDREW JOHNSON COULD NOT COMMON THE COURAGE TO DO SO AND LEFT
THE SCENE. BUT JOHN WILKES BOOTH DID THE
DEED. >> AS BOOTH FRANTICALLY RIDES TO
MEET HIS CO‐CONSPIRATORS AT A SAFE HOUSE, FORD’S THEATER
DESCENDS IN PANDEMONIUM. >> THEY CARRY HIM OUT AROUND THE
SAME BALCONY HE’S JUST ENTERED IN TRIUMPH AND DOWN THE NARROW
STAIRS. >> NOW THE PRESIDENT IS DYING IN
THE MIDDLE OF A STREET. >> AND SOMEONE FROM A BOARDING
HOUSE PORCH ACROSS THE STREET YELLS, BRING HIM IN HERE.
>> SO THEY WENT TO THE BOARDING HOUSE.
THEN THEY SENT THE WORD OUT TO MEMBERS OF THE CABINET, TO THE
DOCTORS. >> AND THE VIGIL BEGINS.
LINCOLN’S BREATHING BECOMES MORE IRREGULAR.
HIS GASPS BECOME LOUDER AND MORE RATTLING.
>> AND MARY COLLAPSED ON THE FLOOR IN HYSTERIA.
>> ANGUISHED CRIES AND SHRIEKS. SHE SCREAMS ONE TOO MANY TIMES
AT LEAST FOR EDWARD SAN TON THE SECRETARY OF WAR.
AND STANTON SAID, TAKE THAT WOMAN OUT OF HERE AND DON’T LET
HER BACK IN. >> IN THE 19th CENTURY THERE WAS
NO MORE SACRED PLACE THAN A WIFE THAN TO BE BY THE SIDE OF HER
DYING HUSBAND. THIS WAS A SACRED
RESPONSIBILITY. AND I THINK SHE WAS OWED MORE
THAN BEING ROBBED OF THAT EXPERIENCE.
>> THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT, LINCOLN’S CONDITION WORSENS.
BUT AS THE COUNTRY ANXIOUSLY AWAITS NEWS OF THE PRESIDENT,
THE MAN HUNT FOR JOHN WILK
>>> AS THE LATE HOURS OF APRIL 14th, 28651865 TRICKLE INTO MORN
PRESIDENT ABRAHAM LINCOLN’S CONDITION WORSENS.
>> AND THE HEARTBEAT JUST GROWS FAINTER AND FAINTER UNTIL 7:22
IN THE MORNING WHEN HE STOPS BREATHING AND THEY PRONOUNCE HIM
DEAD. ONLY THEN IS MARY BROUGHT IN.
AND COLLAPSES AGAIN AT HIS BEDSIDE.
>> LINCOLN IS KILLED ON GOOD FRIDAY AND COMES TO BE SEEN AS A
PERSON WHO IS MADE A MARTYR FOR A BROADER CAUSE.
>> THEY STARTED PRINTING THESE PICTURES OF LINCOLN IN
WASHINGTON UP IN THE CLOUDS LOOKING DOWN ON THE COUNTRY,
MAKING THIS ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. >> BLACK PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON
WERE GATHERING OUTSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE GATES FEELING THE LOSS
PARTICULARLY KEENLY. HE WAS SEEN AS A PROTECTOR.
>> EVEN THE CON FEDERAL MILITARY LEADERSHIP WAS APPALLED BY THE
WAY BOOTH SNUCK UP BEHIND A MAN AND SHOT HIM IN THE BACK OF THE
HEAD. THAT’S NOT A COURAGEOUS ACT.
IT’S NOT AN HONORABLE THING THAT A SOLDIER WOULD DO.
SO 20 CONFEDERATE GENERALS SIGNED A PAPER THAT SAID THEY
CONDEMNED THE ASSASSINATION. PEOPLE WERE ASTONISHED THAT NOT
ALL SOUTHERNERS APPLAUDED BOOTH FOR WHAT HE DID.
THE COUNTRY WAS INCENSED THAT BOOTH VANISHED.
IT WAS AND REMAINS THE GREATEST MAN HUNT IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
>> JOHN WILKES BOOTH RIDES OUT OF WASHINGTON, D. C. AND INTO
SOUTHERN MARYLAND WHERE HE ACQUIRES FIREARMS AND MEETS UP
WITH CO‐CONSPIRATOR DAVID HAROLD.
>> BUT BOOTH INJURED HIS LEG. HE’S TIRED AND HE’S IN PAIN.
LUCKY BOOTH KNOWS A PROCESS SESSION NATE RACIST SLAVE OWNING
DOCTOR SAMUEL MUD. THE NEXT DAY MR. MUD LEARNS THAT
LINCOLN WAS SHOT AND WHO SHOT HIM.
DR. MUD TELLS BOOTH, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?
WHAT HAVE YOU GOTTEN ME INVOLVED IN?
YOU’VE GOT TO GO. AND THEY LEAVE.
BUT WHEN THE UNION SOLDIERS ASK WHERE DID THE STRANGERS GO?
DR. MUD POINTS IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION THAT JOHN WILKES BOOTH
WENT. >> UNION TROOPS CANVAS MARYLAND.
WITH EACH PASSING DAY, THE COUNTRY GROWS HUNGRIER FOR
BOOTH’S CAPTURE. >> THE NATION WAS TRANCESFIXED O
A MAN HUNT. STANTON OFFERED A $100,000
REWARD. STRANGERS WERE ARRESTED ON
TRAINS BECAUSE THEY HAD BLACK HAIR AND A BLACK PTERYGOID TACH.
BOOTH AND HAROLD WERE DESPERATE. THERE WERE UNION TROOPS
EVERYWHERE. THEY DECIDE THE BEST STRATEGY IS
TO HIDE WHILE THE TROOPS PASS THROUGH MARYLAND.
SO FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS, BOOTH AND DAVID HAROLD CAMP OUT
IN THE REMOTE PINE THICKET. >> A FORMER CONFEDERATE SPY
BRINGS THE FUGITIVES FOOD AND NEWSPAPERS.
BOOTH IS SHOCKED TO LEARNED THAT THE COUNTRY HAS DUBBED LINCOLN A
MARTYR AND HIM A COLD‐BLOODED KILLER.
>> BOOTH REALLY THOUGHT HE WOULD BE A HERO.
>> TEN DAYS AFTER THE ASSASSINATION, BOOTH AND HAROLD
CROSS INTO VIRGINIA BELIEVING THEY WILL BE SAFE.
>> THEY GO TO THE FARM. THEY DON’T TELL THE FAMILY WHO
THEY ARE OR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE. THE FAMILY AGREES TO TAKE THEM
IN. BUT THEN A UNION PATROL RIDES BY
AND DAVID HAROLD AND BOOTH HIDE. THAT AROUSES SUSPICION.
THEN THEY SAY, YOU CAN’T SLEEP IN OUR HOUSE TONIGHT.
YOU HAVE TO SLEEP IN OUR TOBACCO BARN.
THE GARRETTS LOCK THEM IN. THEY’RE TRAPPED.
>> THE GARRETTS POINT A CAVALRY TO THE SUSPICIOUS STRANGERS
SLEEPING IN THEIR BARN. IT QUICKLY BECOMES CLEAR THAT
THEY FOUND THEIR ASSASSINS. >> THIS BEGINS A TWO‐HOUR
EXCHANGE BECAUSE THEY WANT HIM ALIVE.
>> EVENTUALLY DAVID HAROLD CRACKS AND TURNS HIMSELF IN.
>> BOOTH STILL WON’T COME OUT. AND, SO, THE SOLDIERS SET THE
BARN ON FIRE. >> JOHN WILKES BOOTH DECIDES
THAT HE’S NOT GOING TO BE TAKEN ALIVE.
HE’S SEEN WHAT HAPPENS TO A MAN WHO IS HANGED.
HE’S NOT GOING TO SUFFER THOSE HUMILIATIONS.
SO AS HE STARTS TO LEVEL HIS GUN AS THOUGH HE’S LEVELING IT TO
SHOOT, THE SERGEANT SHOOTS ONE SHOT.
IT STRIKES A VERTEBRAE. BOOTH IS THEN DRAGGED TO THE
FRONT PORCH. BOOTH LOOKS AT HIS HANDS AND
SAYS USELESS, USELESS. TELL MOTHER I DIE FOR MY
COUNTRY. >> WITH BOOTH DEAD, AMERICANS
ARE LEFT TO FACE THE COLD REALITY OF THEIR GRIEF AND THE
DAUNTING TASK OF
>>> ON APRIL 21st, 1865, A PROCESSION CARRIES THE BODY OF
ABRAHAM LINCOLN THROUGH THE STREETS OF WASHINGTON, D. C.
>> LINCOLN WAS THE FIRST AMERICAN PRESIDENT TO BE
ASSASSINATED. AND, SO, IF NOW WE SORT OF THINK
OF ATTEMPTS ON PRESIDENT’S LIVES AS A HORRIBLE BUT PRESENT PART
OF AMERICAN HISTORY, AT THAT TIME IT ABSOLUTELY WAS NOT AND
IT WAS A TRAGEDY. >> 100,000 PEOPLE LINED
PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE TO WATCH LINCOLN’S COFFIN DRAWN THROUGH
THE STREETS OF WASHINGTON. IT WAS DECIDED THAT LINCOLN
WOULD BE BURIED IN SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS.
AND, SO, A GREAT RAILROAD PROCESSION WOULD BRING ABRAHAM
LINCOLN HOME, ALONG WITH HIS SON, WILLY.
>> LINCOLN’S FUNERAL TRAIN TRACES THE JOURNEY HE TOOK JUST
FOUR YEARS EARLIER. MAKING THE SAME STOPS AT MANY OF
THE SAME CITIES ALONG THE WAY. >> A MILLION PEOPLE VIEW THE
CORPSE OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN. MAJOR FUNERALS WERE CONDUCTED IN
EACH CITY BECAUSE EVERY SOLDIER, EVERY BROTHER, EVERY FATHER WHO
WAS LOST IN THAT WAR WAS COMING HOME WITH HIM ON THAT TRAIN.
>> MARY WENT INTO A VERY PERMANENT STATE OF MOURNING.
SHE ALWAYS WORE BLACK. TO HAVE HER HUSBAND SHOT IN
FRONT OF HER, IT WAS REALLY AN EXPERIENCE SHE DID NOT RECOVER
FROM. >> AFTER LINCOLN’S ASSASSINATION
ASSASSINATION, MARY SECLUDES HERSELF AND HER 12‐YEAR‐OLD SON
TAD IN THE WHITE HOUSE FOR MORE THAN A MONTH.
WHEN SHE IS FINALLY FORCED TO LEAVE, SHE FACES THE REALITY OF
LIFE AS A WIDOW AND THE HARSH CONSEQUENCES OF THE DEBT SHE
ACCUMULATED AS FIRST LADY. >> YOU HAD TO FEEL A LOT OF
SYMPATHY FOR ALL THE GRIEF SHE SUFFERED OVER THE YEARS.
BUT MARY WAS IN A REAL FINANCIAL CRISIS.
WHEN SHE WAS IN THE WHITE HOUSE, CREDIT WAS LIMITLESS.
BUT NOW THEY WANTED TO BE PAID. SO IN THAT FINANCIAL JAM, SHE
DECIDED TO SELL A LOT OF HER CLOTHES.
>> THERE WAS A MERCHANT IN NEW YORK WHO PROMISED TO SELL IT
SECRETLY, QUIETLY. BUT IT BROKE IN THE NEWSPAPERS,
AND THE OLD CLOTHES SCANDAL WAS ALL OVER.
>> THEY LOOKED THROUGH HER CLOTHES.
THERE WERE A LOT OF INSULTING COMMENTS ABOUT HOW SOME OF THE
CLOTHES WERE STILL STAINED WITH HER OWN SWEAT.
A LOT OF COMMENTS ABOUT HOW LOW CUT THEY WERE.
AND SHE SOLD ALMOST NOTHING. AGAIN SHE WAS THE FIGURE OF
MOCKERY. >> TO ESCAPE THE RELENTLESS
PUBLIC ABUSE, IN 1868, MARY TAKES HER 16‐YEAR‐OLD SON AND
MOVES TO GERMANY. >> SHE TOOK HIM TO EUROPE TO BE
EDUCATED. HE WAS VIEWED AS THE LEFTOVER
LINCOLN, AND SHE WANTED HIM TO SHINE.
>> MARY AND TAD RETURNED AND TAD, SADLY, WAS STRICKEN ILL.
>> HERE WAS TAD, HER THIRD SON DYING IN FRONT OF HER.
>> AND IT WAS MARY’S FOURTH DEATH WATCH AS A WIFE AND A
MOTHER. MARY HERSELF SAID IT WAS THE
SADDEST OF ALL OF THEM. AFTER TAD’S DEATH, HER DOCTOR
PRESCRIBED THE MOST WIDELY PRESCRIBED SEDATIVE, AND SHE
BECAME ADDICTED TO IT. SHE CALLED IT HER POWDERS.
>> THE DRUG CAUSES CONFUSION AND HALLUCINATIONS, WORSENING MARY’S
ALREADY FRAGILE MENTAL STATE. >> SHE SUSPECTED PEOPLE OF
SPYING ON HER. SHE THOUGHT PEOPLE WERE TRYING
TO POISON HER. AND, SO, SHE WAS PUT ON TRIAL
FOR INSANITY. SHE ENTERED THE COURTROOM, AND
THERE, TO HER AMAZEMENT, IS HER SON ROBERT.
SHE WAS VERY INSULTED, VERY UPSET, UNDERSTANDABLY.
HE DECIDED THAT FOR HER OWN PROTECTION SHE NEEDED TO BE
COMMITTED. >> HER ONLY LIVING SON BETRAYED
HER. >> ON MAY 19th, 1875, MARY
LINCOLN IS DECLARED INSANE BY A JURY OF ROBERT’S FRIENDS AND
COLLEAGUES. SHE IS TAKEN AGAINST HER WILL TO
AN EXCLUSIVE SANITARIUM OUTSIDE OF CHICAGO.
>> THE MINUTE SHE GOT PUT IN THERE, SHE STARTED PLOTTING.
>> SO FROM HER LITTLE ROOM, SHE ORGANIZED A PR CAMPAIGN THAT
WOULD BE THE ENVY OF THE MOST BRILLIANT PR CAMPAIGN OF OUR
TIMES. >> MARY CONVINCES NEWSPAPERS TO
PUBLISH LETTERS ATTESTING TO HER MENTAL SOUNDNESS, LEADING THE
PUBLIC TO DEMAND JUSTICE FOR THE SCORNED WIDOW.
AFTER ONLY FOUR MONTHS, SHE IS RETRIED AND RELEASED FROM THE
INSTITUTION INTO THE CARE OF HER SISTER.
MARY SPENDS HER FINAL YEARS OUT OF THE SPOTLIGHT BEFORE PASSING
AWAY IN 1882 AT THE AGE OF 63. >> MRS. LINCOLN WAS SUCH AN
IMPORTANT CONFIDANT FOR HER HUSBAND.
AND THE TRAGEDIES OF HER LIFE WERE ENORMOUS.
IT REALLY BOTHERED ME THAT, ACCORDING TO THE LINCOLNISTAS,
MARY WAS VAIN AND UNSTABLE. I THINK SHE WAS AN INTERESTING
AND COMPLICATED WOMAN AND SADLY BUYING EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF
THINGS COULD NOT OUTWEIGH THE SORROW SHE ALWAYS CARRIED
BECAUSE SHE WAS ALWAYS IN FEAR OF BEING ABANDONED.
>> BUT OF ALL THE TRAGEDIES THE LINCOLN FAMILY SUFFERED, THE
GREAT ITSELFEST WAS THE FACT THA LEGACY STARTS AND ENDS WITH
ABRAHAM. ROBERT LINCOLN WENT ON TO BECOME
THE MODERN DAY EQUIVALENT OF WHAT YOU MIGHT CALL A HEDGE FUND
GUY. HE HUNG OUT WITH VERY POWERFUL,
RICH MEN OF THE DAY. >> IN THE END, HIS DESCENDANTS
BECAME KNOWN FOR DECKADENTS AND ENTITLEMENT AND LED TO THE
DESTRUCTION OF THE LINEAGE OF LINCOLN.
>> THERE IS NO LINEAGE, SO LINCOLN IS LOST TO US.
HE CAME DOWN, SHOWED UP, DID WHAT HE HAD TO DO AND WAS GONE.
I HAVE ALWAYS FOUND THAT TO BE ALMOST SUPER NATURAL.
>> BUT LINCOLN’S PREMATURE DEPARTURE LEFT THE NATION
STRUGGLING TO FIND A PATH FORWARD.
THE YEARS AFTER HIS DEATH ARE FRAUGHT WITH TURMOIL THAT
>>> IN THE WAKE OF LINCOLN’S DEATH AND THE PASSING OF THE
13th AMENDMENT, FREEDOM FINALLY BEGINS TO REACH THE FAR EDGE OF
THE CONFEDERACY. >> ENSLAVED PEOPLE IN LARGE
PARTS OF THE SOUTH, THEY DIDN’T HAVE ACCESS TO THE PATHWAYS OF
FREEDOM THAT THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION OUTLINED.
SO THOUSANDS OF ENSLAVED PEOPLE REMAINED LIVING IN BONDAGE.
>> WHEN LINCOLN ISSUED THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION, A
NUMBER OF PEOPLE TOOK THEIR SLAVES TO TEXAS AS A WAY OF E
EMANCIPATION EMANCIPATION.
>> IT’S A SIGN TO THE FORMER CONFEDERATES THAT YOU WILL NOT
BE ABLE TO GET AROUND THE LAW. THE SIGNAL THAT THIS IS GOING TO
BE ENFORCED. >> SOUTHERNERS DO NOT ADAPT WELL
TO THEIR NEW REALITY. THE WAR HAS LEFT THEIR LAND,
THEIR ECONOMY AND THEIR WAY OF LIFE IN RUINS.
AND WITHOUT LINCOLN’S LEADERSHIP OR CLEAR PATH TO RECONSTRUCTION,
CHAOS ENSUES. >> AFTER THE WAR, THE SOUTH
FACED A BIG PROBLEM OF ECONOMIC REDEVELOPMENT.
CONFEDERATE CURRENCY IS WORTHLESS.
ALL THE BANKS IN THE SOUTH WERE BANKRUPT.
NOT TO MENTION THE FACT YOU HAVE TO FIGURE OUT A SYSTEM OF LABOR
TO REPLACE SLAVERY. >> THE SOUTH IS FLOODED WITH
DISGRUNTLED SOUTHERN WHITES THAT WHITE FREE BLACKS AND THEY TURN
TO TERROR IN THE FORM OF THE KU KLUX KLAN.
>> YOU CANNOT IMAGINE A WORSE TIME FOR SOMEONE LIKE LINCOLN TO
LEAVE THE STAGE. EVERYTHING HE’S LEARNED AND THE
ESTEEM HE’S HELD IN IS NEEDED TO GET US THROUGH RECONSTRUCTION,
AND HE’S MURDERED. AND THE GUY WHO REPLACES HIM
COULDN’T BE A WORSE PICK FOR THAT MOMENT.
>> LINCOLN’S AS IS NATIONS ISS I ASSASSINATION ELEVATES ANDREW
JOHNSON TO THE PRESIDENCY. HE WAS PUT ON THE TICKET TO
APPEAL TO BORDER STATE SLAVE OWNERS.
>> ANDREW JOHNSON WAS INCREDIBLY RACIST.
HE HAS NO PERSONAL INTEREST IN SECURING EQUALITY FOR BLACK MEN.
>> THE RADICALS QUICKLY REALIZE HE’S SIDING WITH THE SOUTHERN
WHITES OVER AND OVER AGAIN. >> JOHNSON’S POLICY MAKES IT
EASY TO GET A PARDON IF YOU WERE A HIGH‐LEVEL CON FEDERAL TO I
SHALL IF. HE SAYS, I’M NOT GOING TO TELL
YOU WHO CAN VOTE. THAT SENDS A SIGNAL THAT THERE
WILL NOT BE A LOT OF OVERSIGHT, THAT THEY CAN DO A LOT OF THINGS
TO DENY AFRICAN‐AMERICANS RIGHTS AND TO INFLICT VIOLENCE ON THEM
WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING PUNISHED FOR IT.
>> IN 1869, JOHNSON IS SUCCEEDED BY ULYSSES S. GRANT.
>> THE 14th AMENDMENT THAT DOES GUARANTEE CITIZEN, THAT GIVES
BLACK MEN THE ABILITY TO VOTE. >> THE 14th AMENDMENT AND BEYOND
LAID OUT A VERY CLEAR BLUEPRINT FOR RACIAL EQUALITY.
THERE WERE BLACK LEGISLATURES FROM MISSISSIPPI SITTING IN THE
CONGRESS AND SITTING IN THE SENATE.
THAT HAPPENED. >> FORMERLY ENSLAVED BLACK
PEOPLE ARE GETTING EDUCATED. SCHOOLS ARE BEING SET UP.
THE ELECTION OF 1870 IN VIRGINIA, 140,000 BLACK MEN WILL
VOTE. SO RECONSTRUCTION WAS NOT A
FAILURE. RECONSTRUCTION WAS ABANDONED.
>> THE ECONOMIC PROJECT OF SLAVERY YIELDED ALSO A KIND OF
CAST THINKING ABOUT WHITE SUPREMACY, AND WE SEE THAT
PSYCHOLOGY STILL CONTINUES EVEN AFTER THE CIVIL WAR IS OVER.
AFRICAN‐AMERICANS ARE NOT GIVEN THE LAND THAT THEY’RE ENTITLED
TO. AND SO GENERALLY BLACK AMERICANS
ARE REQUIRED TO WORK AS TENANT FARMERS WITH WHITE LANDOWNERS.
>> THESE SHARECROPPERS BECAME DEPENDENT ON THE VERY PEOPLE WHO
HAD HELD THEM ENSLAVED. SO ANY KIND OF ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY WAS TAKEN AWAY FROM THEM.
AND, SO, THE COUNTRY MOVES DOWN THE WRONG PATH IMMEDIATELY.
>> BY USING POLITICAL TERROR, WHITE SUPREMACISTS ARE ABLE TO
OVERTHROW ONE BY ONE THE CONGRESSIONAL RECONSTRUCTION
GOVERNMENTS. THE OLD SOUTHERN DEMOCRATIC
REGIMES HAVE BEEN REINSTALLED AND THE WAY IS OPENED TO ONE OF
THE GREAT DISGRACES OF AMERICAN HISTORY, THE IMPOSITION OF JIM
CROWE AND SEGREGATION. >> IT’S BRUTAL.
IT’S TERRORISM AGAINST THE BLACK POPULATION.
YOU HAVE THE WHITE SOUTHERN POPULATION USING VIOLENCE TO SUE
SUPPRESS THE BLACK POPULATION. THIS BECOMES A NEW NORMAL IN
AMERICA. >> REMEMBER I GAVE YOU THAT STAT
ABOUT VIRGINIA AND 140,000 FORMERLY ENSLAVED PEOPLE VOTING
IN THE 1870 ELECTION? BY 1900, IT WAS NOW 10,000.
>> THE FAILURE OF THE RECONSTRUCTION THAT’S REALLY
IMPORTANT IS THE FAILURE OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ENSURE
THAT BLACK MEN WOULD ACTUALLY RECEIVE EQUAL PROTECTION OF THE
LAWS AND WOULD BE ALLOWED EQUAL ACCESS TO THE POLLS.
>> YOU DID HAVEN’T THE LEADERSHIP IN PLACE TO MAKE IT
REAL. SO YOU HAVE A MISSING CENTURY OF
PROGRESS. AND IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO
IMAGINE WHAT AMERICA WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE.
IF THE BULLET HAD MISSED. >> IF RECONSTRUCTION UNTIL THE
CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT, YOU HAVE BLACK LEADERS ENVOEKING
LINCOLN’S NAME TO GET WHITE MEN AND WOMEN TO LIVE UP TO THAT
PROMISE ON THE STEPS OF THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL, KING IS
TALKING ABOUT THE PROMISE THAT LINCOLN HAD MADE HAS NOT BEEN
FULFILLED. >> IN 1964, THE CIVIL RIGHTS
BILL OUTLAWS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON RACE, RELIGION, SEX OR
NATIONALITY. BUT SINCE ITS PASSING, LAWS
SUPPORTING AND DEBILITATING THE ENFRANCHISEMENT OF BLACK
AMERICANS HAVE EBBED AND FLOWED. FOR EVERY POLICY UPHOLDING
EQUALITY, THERE IS ANOTHER UNDERMINING IT.
>> LINCOLN CERTAINLY WOULD ACKNOWLEDGE HOW FAR WE HAVE COME
BECAUSE WE REALLY HAVE, BUT WE’RE NOT THERE.
WE ARE DEFINITELY NOT THERE. AND IN RECENT TIMES, IT SEEMS
WE’RE GOING BACKWARDS. I THINK IN MANY WAYS, LINCOLN
WOULD BE MOST DISAPPOINTED WITH WHAT WE HAVE NOT ESTABLISHED.
>> STILL A LONG PUSH FOR BASIC HUMANITY, FOR BASIC CIVIL
RIGHTS. WHAT PEOPLE ARE MISSING AND
SAYING ALL LIVES MATTER, THEY’RE MISSING A HISTORY IN WHICH BLACK
PEOPLE’S BODIES AND LIVES HAVE BEEN THOUGHT OF AS EXPENDABLE,
INCONSEQUENTIAL, NOT FULLY EQUAL.
THIS EXPENDABILITY IS SOMETHING WE HAVE NOT YET BEEN ABLE TO
SHED. >> THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE
MOMENT OF ABOLITION THAT LINCOLN LIVED THROUGH AND THE BLACK
LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT TODAY IS THAT IT WAS ABOUT IMAGING WHO
HAD RIGHTS AND BRINGING MORE PEOPLE INTO THAT CONVERSATION.
WHAT HAPPENS IF WE PRIORITIZE THE NEEDS OF THE MOST VULNERABLE
IN THIS SOCIETY? >> EVEN THOUGH PROGRESS IS NEVER
LINEAR, LINCOLN SET IN MOTION A PROCESS.
THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THIS COUNTRY THAT SEEMS LIKE IT WANTS
TO GET TO A BETTER PLACE. EVEN IN THE MOST DIFFICULT
TIMES. >> RACIAL VIOLENCE IN AMERICA
HAS CHANGED SHAPE AND FORM. BUT THE COUNTRY BUILT ON THE
BACKS OF THE ENSLAVED HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO SHAPE WHITE
SUPREMACY FROM ITS DNA. LINCOLN USHERED THE COUNTRY
THROUGH THE CIVIL WAR. BUT WOULD HE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO
NAVIGATE ITS COMPLICATED AFTERMATH?
>> WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD LINCOLN LIVED?
>> LINCOLN TOOK A GIANT STEP TOWARD EQUALITY, TOOK A GIANT
STEP TOWARD EXTENDING OPPORTUNITY.
AND I LIVE WITH THE SPECULATION OF WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD
HE BEEN PERMITTED TO COMPLETE HIS OWN WORK.
>> WE ALWAYS LIKE TO THINK ABOUT A BETTER FUTURE THAN THE ONE WE
SAW. ONE CAN ARGUE THAT LINCOLN HAD
THE KIND OF TEMPERAMENT THAT HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SEE HIS
WAY THROUGH RECONSTRUCTION AND COME TO A BETTER RESULT.
>> BUT THE FANTASY THAT LINCOLN COULD SOMEHOW HAVE SINGLE
HANDEDLY MANAGED THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE ABOLITION OF
SLAVERY, I THINK IT IS A FANTASY.
>> THE SOCIAL FORCES WOULD HAVE PRESENTED LINCOLN WITH THE SAME
QUANDARY HIS SUCCESSORS FACE. VERY MUCH THE SAME PROBLEMS WE
CONFRONT T
>>> THERE HAVE BEEN 46 AMERICAN PRESIDENTS AND 46 DIFFERENT
INTERPRETATIONS AS TO WHAT THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THAT OFFICE
ENTAILED. BUT LINCOLN REMAINS THE STANDARD
TO WHICH HIS SUCCESSORS, DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN, ARE
HELD. >> LINCOLN EMBODIES SO MANY
TRAITS WHICH ARE CONSIDERED QUINTESSENTIALLY AMERICAN.
HE’S THE MAN WHO ROSE THROUGH HIS OWN HARD WORK FROM VERY
MODEST BEGINNINGS TO THE PINNACLES OF POWER.
AND HE’S THE MAN WHO, QUOTE, UNQUOTE, FREED THE SLAVES.
HE USED POLITICAL POWER FOR MORAL PURPOSES.
SO PEOPLE SEE HIM AGAIN AS THE PERSON WHO REFLECTS WHAT WE WANT
AMERICA TO BE. >> BY THE FACT THAT HE’S GONE SO
DRAMATICALLY AND SO QUICKLY AT THE PEAK OF HIS POWER JUST AS
THE WAR IS FOLDING UP HAS FOREVER TRAPPED HIM IN THIS
AMBER. THIS IS THE PERFECT PRESIDENT
AND PERSON. >> SINCE HIS DEATH, LINCOLN HAS
BEEN MARTYRED AND IDOLIZED. HISTORY HAS CAST HIM INTO THE
ROLE OF AMERICA’S SAVIOR. >> THERE ARE IMPORTANT WAYS IN
WHICH THINKING ABOUT LINCOLN AS A MARTYR DISCOURAGED AMERICAN
PEOPLE FROM THINKING ABOUT THE FLAWS OF WHAT HE DID OR FAILED
TO DO. THE FACT OF LINCOLN’S DEATH
ENCOURAGED SORT OF A ROSIE ‐‐ ROSY PICTURE OF WHO HE WAS IN
LIFE. >> WE DO A DISSERVICE TO HIM AND
THE COUNTRY WHEN HE PUT HIM ON A PEDESTAL AND WE BELIEVE THAT HE
NEVER MADE MISTAKES. I COULD NOT READ LINCOLN AND NOT
BE IMPACTED WHEN HE TALKS ABOUT RACE AND HE TALKS ABOUT WHITES
BEING SUPERIOR TO BLACKS. THAT CUTS TO THE HEART.
EVEN IF YOU’RE TRAINED TO BE OBJECTIVE, HONEST HISTORIANS
COME TO THE REALIZATION THAT THEIR INTERPRETATIONS OF THE
PAST ARE COLORED BY THEIR OWN PREJUDICES, BY THEIR OWN LIVES
EXPERIENCES. AND AS A WOMAN OF COLOR, I SEE
THE WORLD THROUGH A DIFFERENT PAIR OF EYES.
>> PEOPLE WANT HEROES. WE HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS
THIS BENEVOLENT WHITE PRESIDENT WHO LOVED EVERYBODY WHO WANTED
US AS ONE COUNTRY BECAUSE IN LINCOLN DOESN’T BELIEVE IN THAT,
IT MAKES THE ENTIRE AMERICAN STORY A LOT HARDER TO UNDERSTAND
WHEN IT COMES TO RACE. >> ABRAHAM LINCOLN IS NOT THE
GREAT EMANCIPATOR. BUT ABRAHAM LINCOLN HEARD BLACK
PEOPLE’S CONCERNS AND LISTENED TO THEM AND HELPED TO MOVE THE
COUNTRY TOWARD POLICIES THAT WOULD ACTUALLY MAKE THAT FREEDOM
REAL. LINCOLN’S LIFE STORY IS A STORY
ABOUT WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN A THOUGHTFUL LEADER LISTENS TO THE
RIGHT PEOPLE. >> ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE
NAACP SAID ABOUT LINCOLN, I LOVE HIM, NOT BECAUSE HE WAS PERFECT,
BUT BECAUSE HE WASN’T AND YET HE TRIUMPHED.
THE WORLD IS BORN OF THOSE HATING AND DECEMBERSPISEING THEI
FELLOWS. TO THOSE I LOVE TO SAY, DO YOU
SEE THIS MAN? HE WAS ONE OF YOU, BUT HE BECAME
AN RA HAPPEN LINCOLN. WE CAN BECOME BETTER VERSIONS OF
OURSELVES. WE CAN CHANGE OVER TIME.
LINCOLN WAS EVOLUTIONARY. AND IN BEING EVOLUTIONARY, HE
BECAME REVOLUTIONARY. >> THE IDEALIZED VERSION OF
LINCOLN IS AMERICA AT ITS BEST. IT’S AMERICA LOOKING AT THE
THINGS THAT ARE WRONG AND TRYING TO MAKE THEM RIGHT.
>> DR. KING’S SPEECH BEGAN BY SAYING THAT HE STANDS IN THE
SHADOW OF THE MEMORIAL TO THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT 100 YEARS AGO
ISSUED THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION AND CHANGED
AMERICA. I THINK HIS GUIDING SPIRIT
REMAINED A HOPE FOR PEOPLE. WHEN I LOOK AT ABRAHAM LINCOLN,
I’M ASKING, WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO MOVE POLITICIANS WHO MAY BE
RELUCTANT, THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND THE URGENCY, THEY MAY
FEEL THEY HAVE TO BE PRAGMATIC WHEN THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR
REVOLUTIONARY CHANGE. >> THE MORE THAN 150 YEARS THAT
HAVE FOLLOWED HIS PRESIDENCY, EACH GENERATION HAS RE‐EXAMINED
AND REDEFINED LINCOLN’S LEGACY. THE ROAD TO A MORE PERFECT UNION
HAS BEEN LONG AND BLOODY. BUT LIKE LINCOLN, DESPITE THE
TRAGEDIES THAT DERAIL US, WE ADJUST, ADAPT AND SOLDIER ON.
AND AS LINCOLN SAID IN HIS MESSAGE TO CONGRESS IN DECEMBER
1862, THE DOGMAS OF THE QUIET PAST ARE INADEQUATE TO THE
STORMY PRESENT. THE OCCASION IS PILED HIGH WITH
DIFFICULTY, AND WE MUST RISE WITH THE OCCASION.
AS OUR CASE IS NEW, SO WE MUST THINK ANEW AND ACT ANEW.
WE MUST DISENTHRAL OURSELVES AND THEN WE SHALL SAVE OUR COUNTRY.