I was about to say i would rather be assassinated on this spot and surrender. I love the fact that he says those words on the spot. Knowing full will that there is a plot to kill him at that moment. He means it and he pauses and it hits him. What is fantastic about that moment. I wont tell you how, we know he lives. Its one of my favorite parts of the books and those are the moments we love but when we were debating doing this book what was a very important to us is it silly for me to say wiese found the secret plot to kill Abraham Lincoln. What was far more interesting to josh and i. We plenty of stories we could of done. The reason we picked this one is because the context of when it was happening. You can see the civil war unfolding in front of us. You can see that there into. Whatever side youre on it you hate the other side. You think the their site is side is horrible and awful people. Thats exactly where we are right now. We want to get through anyone that reads it is not just a
Good evening everyone and welcome to books and books with the virtual author series we are virtual booksellers and author events its great to see you all here tonight. Thank you to all of you out there and all the support that you have shown books of books and writers everywhere at this time we are facing. Hoping that you and your families are safe and healthy. Natalie with the Miami Book Fair that we do think them people are asking about the book fair weather virtual or physical or a combination its too early to tell and also the culture crusaders were thrilled to welcome our good friend to celebrate the publication of his new book the lincoln conspiracy we have been with brad not let any virus get in the way. Everyone knows the story that with the original conspiracy in 1861 and for that first inauguration to say this is a story that few people know with deep Political Division and what they do in times of strife and on the New York Times bestseller and the escape artist and thriller
Im very happy about that. So where are we going to go . Lets talk quickly about the lincoln conspiracy. We all know john wilkes booths store, how he ended abraham agains life and his presidency and this is the first secret plot to kill Abraham Lincoln is at the start of the presidency, before it begins. Why does it happen . When abraham i can is going to raise his right hand and become the sixteenth president of the United States the only way he can do that is take a train from his home in springfield and go to washington dc. He goes to washington dc and the only way to get from illinois to dc is on any train, you have to go through baltimore and baltimore was a slave state. The plot of the book is very simple. A secret society is planning to kill Abraham Lincoln, and ambition when he comes to baltimore in and his friend is presidency before it begins. That is the setup but what i think is interesting is the action, just where it begins. We open on this train and it is speeding through
National archives. Find the chief Service Branch which is a fancy way of saying i run the public side of the buildings. And to provide the welcoming remarks today. Im pleased you could join us in the room were participating on facebook or youtube and also those of you joining us on cspan today. Allan pinkerton, elizabeth and baker. The correspondent for newsweek and he has authored six books on military and intelligence including bestsellers into the commandos and critically acclaimed question of loyalty. James mcpherson described the book as a fast paced narrative of union intelligence operations in Eastern Theater with the fabrications that grew up. It is my honor to be here today and a pleasure to welcome back someone who spent countless hours if not months researching the holdings especially when it culminates with such a good narrative as this one. The section is a testament to the research conducted. You will find numerous. This narrative opens with chapters devoted to the agents
Mccauleys macaulay honors college, the City University of new york dr. Widmer worked in the Clinton White house as a speechwriter, writer and senior advisor, and since then hes led organizations, including the c. V. Starr center, for the study of the american experience, the John Carter Brown library at Brown University, as well as a Research Center at the of congress. He helped the New York Times disunion series, which i know many of you enjoyed throughout the sesquicentennial. And his latest book is lincoln on the verge. I have my copy right here with me. 13 days to washington is the recipient of book from the lincoln forum, as well as the society of president ial. And its going to be the subject of our conversation today and. Its a wonderful book. Let me get that out of the way. I recommend it to you all. Its a captivating story. I really like how vividly it conveys the human drama lincolns journey from illinois to washington, d. C. February 1861. Hes going to take up the presidency