Witnessed the death of three of the four as well as her own husbands assassination. Though her life was filled with tragedy, she relished in their success. As we focus on the civil war years, one of the defining moments in our countrys history, a look at the life and times of Mary Todd Lincoln, one of the most complex first ladies ever to live in the white house. Thanks for being with us for cspan continuing series on first ladies influence and image. We invite to history advisers for the whole series to be our guests for this program. Let me introduce you to roslynter borg penn. And Richard Nortan smith our guest and at our table is the director of five president ial libraries including the Abraham Lincoln library in springfield, illinois. Thank you both for being here. Mary todd lincoln and this is a question for both, well start with richard, is viewed in broad strokes, bouts of depression, criticism of her lavish spending and and indulgent mother and what do you see. Oh, boy. That
Born in 1818 in lexington, kentucky, mary todd grew up in a slaveholding family yet lived to her see her husband Abraham Lincoln issue the emancipation proclamation. A mother of four sons he witnessed the death of three of the four as well as her own husbands assassination. Though her life was filled with tranlgly, as lincolns political partner, she also rely i should in their success. As we focus on the civil war years, one of the defining moments in our countrys history, a look at the life and times of Mary Todd Lincoln, one of the most complex first ladies ever to live in the white house. Thanks for being with us for cspan continuing series on first ladies influence and image. Tonight as we look at Mary Todd Lincoln, we invite two of our academic advisers for the whole series to be our guests for this program. Let me introduce you to rosalynn toreberg penn. And Richard Norton smith, our guest and at our table is the director of five president ial libraries including the Abraham Linc