To keep the focus on the patients and making sure that they get better outcomes. I thank the president. I yield the floor. The presiding officer the clerk will call the roll. Quorum call mr. Cornyn mr. President . The presiding officer the majority whip. Mr. Cornyn mr. President , i ask unanimous consent that the quorum call be rescinded. The presiding officer without objection mr. Cornyn mr. President , i ask unanimous consent that the senate be in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Cornyn mr. President , i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to the consideration of h. Con. Res. 9 which is at the desk. The presiding officer the clerk will report. The clerk house concurrent resolution 9 authorizing the use of emancipation hall and the Capitol Visitor Center for are a ceremony as part of the commemoration of the days of remembrance of the victims of the holocaust. The presiding officer without objection, the senate will proceed to the measure. Mr. Cornyn mr. President , id ask unanimous consent the concurrent resolution be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Cornyn mr. President be, i now ask unanimous consent mr. President , i now ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of s. Res. 135 submitted earlyyearold today. Submitted earlier today. The presiding officer the clerk will report. The clerk senator resolution 135, making Minority Party appointments for the congress. The presiding officer without objection, the senate will proceed to the measure. Mr. Cornyn i ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to and that the motion to reconsider be made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Cornyn mr. President , i ask unanimous consent that s. 95 be discharged from the committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and be referred to the committee on banking, housing and urban affairs. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Cornyn i now ask unanimous consent that when the senate completes its Business Today it adjourn until 9 30 a. M. Wednesday, april 15. Following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the journal of proceedings be approved to date and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day. Following leader remarks, the senate be in a period of morning business for one hour with senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each and that the time be equally divided with the democrats controlling the first half and the majority controlling the second half. I further ask that the Senate Recess from 12 30 p. M. Until 2 00 p. M. For the bipartisan luncheon. Finally, the senate observe a moment of silence at 2 49 p. M. In honor of the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Cornyn if theres no further business to come before the senate, i ask it stand adjourned under the previous order. The presiding officer the Senate Stands adjourned until 9 30 a. M. Tomorrow. The senate a very the midnight deadline. The socalled bill changes the formula used to pay doctors. The house already passed the measure, which now goes to president obama and which he has said he will sign. More life. More lives in the coverage tomorrow here on cspan2. Are you a a fan . Now a book published by Public Affairs looking inside the personal life of every 1st lady in American History based on interviews with more than 50 historians and biographers. Biographers. Their lives come ambitions command unique partnerships. The books provides lively stories of these fascinating women who survived the scrutiny of the white house sometimes a great personal cost we will supporting families and famous husbands and even changed history. And illuminating entertaining command inspiring read and is now available as hardcover or ebook. Good evening. This is the scene from washington dc outside of fords theater and pearson house. It was on it was on this day 150 years ago when John Wilkes Booth shot and fatally wounded. 7 22 a. M. What you are looking at is every creation as reenactors are remembering what happened on the evening of april 141865. The next few minutes we were watch and see this event unfold live here on cspan television. 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[inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] you are looking at the scene outside of fords theater here as we look back at what happened 150 years 150 years ago. A special presentation of American History tv on cspan2. You can usually watch every weekend. 48 hours a people and events that document the american story. Story. Just a few days ago 150 years ago generally surrender to general grant at appomattox. The president and first lady traveling to fords theatre for the programs our american cousin. Shot by john about booth. Doctors carried him across the street to the Peterson House. Reenactors in the general public on hand. Part of an allnight vigil. The president died at 7 22 a. M. The next day easter weekend. Weekend. The president was shot and died one day before easter 150 years ago. 150 years ago. We continue to watch the scene on 10th street. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] s. 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House. Doctors tended to president lincoln. A crowd gathered outside then as tonight holding a vigil. The next morning april 15 when president lincoln passed away ironically a light rain falling tonight and there was light rain 150 years ago as wells. Our 16th president died. This is the scene. We will continue to watch. Part of American History tv. s. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] s. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] s. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] s. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] s. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] s. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] and you are looking at the scene directly outside of fords theater which is directly outside the Peterson House, directly across house, directly across fords theater. General powell hung those outside for the event. This commemorates what happened 150 years ago the assassination of president Abraham Lincoln. Phone lines are open. 202 7488901. Joining us outside of fords theater is James Swanson author of the book manhunt something you have commemorated for many years dating back to 1987. Thank you for being with us tonight. Thank you. Great to be with you after one can only imagine what it was like. The civil war had just ended s, generally had surrendered. This was supposed to be a night of celebration to get out of the white house, travel to fords theatre enjoy something that the president often loved. Walk us through as the events unfolded. Guest well the well, the north was celebrating, lee had surrendered five days earlier command washington had a week of celebrations. On this day Abraham Lincoln decided to seek some relief and come to fords theatre. Lincoln loved to be in a crowd but separate. He loves to be in the theater by himself. He and mary decided to come here to guests with them. Earlier this afternoon the pres. On his wall the pres. And his wife went on a carriage ride. He said, mary, this day i consider the war has come to an end. The death of our young boy. We have been unhappy. He talked about his desire to go to chicago. He said he wanted to see the pacific ocean. But we must be happy again. Hours later they arrive here they arrive after they arrive after the play starteds. Lincoln came without an entourage, without guards. When he got to that box the actors saw that the pres. Had arrived. They played hail to the chief and the crowd went wild. Here was lincoln. He had done he had done as he said he would, won the civil war ended slavery, and preserve the union. This this was his greatest triumph. He got into the president ial box and bowed and sat down and the play continued. I would have liked to have seen that. I would not have wanted to seen the assassination, but i wouldve loved loved to see that magical moment when Abraham Lincoln arrived here with majestic simplicity and accepted the greetings and thanks of the American People after one you have been coming to this box since 1987. For you and so many historians it must feel special for you tonight. Abcatoo tonight. Guest it does. I have been coming here since 87. My future wife and i came here on april 14 14th thinking we would see a celebration honoring lincolns. We went to a restaurant and waited them and no one ever came. All we saw was a Station Wagon driveby. The car slowed car slowed to a stop, the father pointed the force theater, the kids look, nodded, nodded their heads and drove on. That is how the American People remembered. They did nothings. No celebration. What you see behind me now is what the street look like a hundred and 50 years ago tonight and i am happy that they made a. Of bringing the American People heres. The most moving 9 i have ever been here. The performances here. The performance inside the theater was incredible. We felt the presence of Abraham Lincoln. They created the happiness that lincoln mustve felt. Laughing. He put his coat on. A little chilly. At one point mary lincoln reached out and held his hand. The pres. President said what we will miss her think of me hanging on to you some those were the last words i spoke. For me having for me having written many books, having come here for much of my life command is deeply moving to be standing on 10th street. We want to bring in viewers and listeners. As listeners. As you look back at exactly what happened and reflect on what Abraham Lincoln meant to this countrys, what do you think it was like in terms of the communication and getting the word that lincoln had died early the next day . Well, people do. About 11 00 oclock that night the pres. s i cant his body was carried across the street. He was pronounced mortally wounded. The pres. Of the United States cannot diana floor of the theater. Taken to a saloon. We can have the pres. Diana saloon. He was taken to the Peterson House command there began a vigil. Listen for a moment if we could. At approximately 10 15 p. M. On april 14 1865 1865 president Abraham Lincoln was shot by donald booth inside fords theater while attending the play our american cousins. The 1st person to enter the president ial box was dr. Charles leal 23yearold physician who had only completed his medical studies a few weeks prior along with doctor charles, doctor leal enlisted the assistance of a group of soldiers to carry pres. Lincoln out of the theater pushing against crowds of onlookers and stopping frequently to administer aid to the following president. Outside the theater a light rain began to fall. Dr. Leal recognized that a bumpy carriage ride through the muddy streets of washington dc would be far too much for Abraham Lincolns weakened body to bear. Just then just then a resident, William Pierce boarding house across the street from the theater opened the door at the top the stairs and said bring him in heres. The soldier who had just moments earlier been celebrating the Union Victory of the civil war now had to carry the weakened body of the following commander through crowds of people. The bed that they found in the rear bedroom of the Peterson House was too small to accommodate the pres. s 64 frame, so they had to lay him diagonally across the bed. Doctor leal and doctor taft attended to lincoln and tried to make them as comfortable as they could for they knew that the 1st moment that his wounds was mortals. Mary lincoln spent most of that night in the front parlor of the Peterson House overcome with grief, already mourning the death of her youngest son the assassination of her husband was too much for her to bear her eldest sons came to her at the white house and attempted to comfort her throughout the night. In the night. In the rear parlor of the Peterson House secretary of war stanton began his investigation into the events surrounding the assassination of president lincoln. He questioned eyewitnesses sent orders out for the arrest of John Wilkes Booth and began to send information out about the events at the theaters. As the news spread citizens from all over the city came to see for themselves if the horrible rumors that they had heard were in fact, true and the confusion and chaos of the nights events panic and fear of a southern conspiracy began to spread misinformation throughout the crowd. The Vice President had also been killed. Others said that general grant and met the same fate. One rumor came about that the general and confederate troops had taken possession of the city. A thousand and one exciting tales were started and i doubt. The atmosphere of shock and craze, crowds of people fill the frenzy and waiting to seize an opportunity for it it, they began to turn on each other. One man who was thought to have been heard uttering words of support for the assassin was mobbed by the gathering crowd and nearly hanged from a lamp a lamp post before he was rescued by policemen. As the moments as the moments dragged on on that wet and chilly night feelings of anger and fear became feelings of sadness and melancholy. Weary weary that the weight of world, women and mens plan to each other for support. They stood for hours outside the peterson home on that wet and chilly night standing vigil, waiting for any word on the fate of there beloved father abraham. Is wound is on the left side of the head online with the left ear and 3 inches behind. The history of surgery has failed to record a recovery from such a bond. It is impossibles that he will recover. But as god has it i we will return throughout the evening to alert you of the status of our great leader. His pulses 44 and growing weaker. Its my name is laura keene. It was my company that presented our american cousin this evening. I knew president lincoln was in the theater but i had not been told i was still have felt his presence. Actors are well trained in the art of reading an audience, even from behind the curtain. And i felt a change in the room with the president and his wife arrived. It was it was unmistakable. As it happened, i was behind the curtain on the opposite side of the theater from the president s and at the very moment of the tragedy waiting to make my entrance into the scene. I was listening intently to the action upon the stage not wishing to miss my queue so i so i did not hear the report of the pistol but John Wilkes Booth, an actor of my acquaintance, but a man i was not was not expecting to see, push through the curtain, striking my hand with his own as the rest by. I knew at once that something was amiss. And then the cries began. Women screaming, men hollering, children wailing as if the entire theater were burning. And i quickly realized that was minute you to enter. Its to the front of the stage and address the audience. For gods sake have presence of mind. All will be well. But i was wrong. All was not well. And never we will be again. Not for president lincoln not for our country and not for me. Immediately ms. Harris went with the president called for me to bring water. Its arriving at the president s box having pushed my way through the crowd and up the staircase as though mrs. Lincoln was in agony, i shall never forget the sound. I realized at once that any help would be in vain. I could do nothing for her. More president lincoln. He looked so very like death that i begged to be allowed to comfort him while he drew what i suspected would be his last breath. I sat myself down the floor took his wounded head into my lap and tried to be of some small comfort. I begged him and tried to force some of the liquid through his lips and held him there until at long last they carried him away from me and away from the theater i do not know cheated on the floor of the president. Under the dawning realization. Permanently stained his blood. Its with the same sadness. My hand shook as i rose and made my way back down toward the lobby. All i could think, all i can still think even now is that my life had changed from comedy to tragedy in an instant. And god only knows of my happiness will ever return again. John wilkes booth. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] the historic forest theater and the National Park service recreating the Historic Events the consequential events of 100 years ago. We want to rejoin with the author of manhunt joining us outside of fords theater. Ironic as you feel the temperature tonight that it is similar to how it was a hundred and 50 years ago today. A rainy, chilly night. Yes. It yes. It is incredible how the day is so much like it was. It it began raining and misting and was very chilly like it is tonight. The crowd was as it is now even a little bigger. About 1800 about 1800 people then 2,000, than 3000, than 4,000 choked with people so much people, so much that when the carriage containing secretary of war stanton and secretary of the navy wells arrived theyre carriage could not penetrate the crowd. Its throughout the night several thousand people waited wanted to know how is the president we will be live he died. Many were newly freed slaves secretary wells came out. Sitting at lincolns side and was stunned to see a largely africanamerican crowd outside weeping and praying. David is joining us from enfield, connecticut. Good evening. Thank you for waiting. Good evening. How are you tonight . We are fine. Go ahead with your question. More of a comment. I was struck by everything so far. I was thinking back on how when i was younger i went to fords theatre took a took a tour, went to the Peterson House and took a tour there as well and always loved the history of the civil war and the story of Abraham Lincoln i have seen a bunch of movies and books about him. I have read a lot of his speeches you know a lot of the things that he wrote. He he was a really smart man. I was watching and thinking how impressive it is that 150 years later he Still Matters in the american consciousness you no . I was just i wish i could be there right now with everyone standing at the right now. Thank you. We do remember lincoln to this day. Our best beloved president and certainly one of the two or three most important never. And he matters today. Today. But get his greatest characteristics, his empathy for others, his greatness as a writer. Caller good evening. Mr. Swanson i had a couple of questions about the theater that night. What were the circumstances that led them that night and i heard they had led very tragic lives after the assassination and if you could comment on that. Just go Abraham Lincolns the other guests were henry rascon and daughter of senator from new york. They were not the first race. General grant was supposed to come but mrs. Grant did not like mary lincoln. And most of women in official washington couldnt stand mary lincoln. Others were asked and they didnt come so ultimately rascon was chosen and claire harris. Major revcon was stabbed right john wilkesbooth aftergood shot the president and try to prevent booth from escaping into the stabbed in the arm. They had a tragedy later. Living in germany rathbone went insane and years later using the same weapons, the type of views to the pistol and a knife he murdered his wife in front of their children and he was confined to a german insane asylum. So they had a tragic life. Clara harris would have been better off if booth had killed her fiance this night on april 14, 1865. They would have saved her from being murdered at his hands late late years later. The president did not have a security detail. Explain that if you could for a moment. Guest Abraham Lincoln didnt believe in security. He was not an imperial president. P1 said my story is the short and simple annals of the poor and he didnt like having personal bodyguards so when he arrived here he was in a carriage with mary his wife with rathbone and harris and the coachman francis bird. There is a legend of the white house guard john parker that abandoned the president wasnt guarding the box. He was really guarding the white house. There was no secret service them. It was not his sworn duty to be the bodyguard for all immature and furthermore they have showed his card to Charles Forbes and employee of the white house was sitting outside the box. He handed it to him and booth was so famous and well regarded Abraham Lincoln had seen them perform on stage. No one would have stopped the booth from coming into the theater box. Lincoln on surprise was not murdered in the executive mansion during the war. Security was so poor. You could be a stranger, go to the white house gain entry and say i want to see the president and likely if you set down for couple of hours you could have a few words with president lincoln. Lincoln just didnt believe in having guards and security and unfortunately that was his undoing. Host we are talking to James Swanson the author of manhunt. Im at a dramatic point in the place of the attention of the whole audience was centered upon the stage and booth took advantage of the distraction and made his way into the box in which president lincoln that. We heard the report of the shot and the subsequent tom maltin the theater. We thought the noise was occasioned by some new feature of the evenings entertainment. And just then my brother came running toward me out of the audience crying to me that booth had shot lincoln. We were together all me a moment when booth himself came running between us with a great knife in his hand and a knife was about a foot in length. He dashed toward the building waving the great knife in his hand and trusted me aside in the of my fellow at their mr. Withers. We were astounded and could not conquer and its meaning. We both thought the man had gone mad. For while the lives of the members of the company were in grave peril. A great crowd frenzied crowd much like us who had gathered outside the theater and because of some of the rumors that some of the members of the company were conspirators with booth some of the more excited that they burned the theater and would cremate the alleged offenders. The sparrow was acute until the military got in the situation hand. My father and i left for home and mr. Withers came with us. Not until we arrived there to be realized that mr. Withers coat had and slashed into places. For my part i remember perfectly well the last appearance of john wilkesbooth on the stage, or rather the last but one. He played the part of the scholar in apostate. The real tragedy though was when he threw the world and two morning. [applause] [inaudible conversations] host hundreds of people gathered outside the fords theatre on tenth street in northwest washington dc6 blocks from the white house as we reflect the events that unfolded on this very evening 150 years ago. The consequential events that resulted in the death of our 16th president and joining us outside of fords theatres historian James Swanson. I know in about 45 minutes or so you were going to be inside Peterson House for a tour. You have been in that house so many different times. What stands out . Guest what stands out is the intimacy of the theater. Unlike fords theatre which collect inside had to be totally renovated renovated. The pearson house feels completely authentic. Its never been gutted. Its never been fully restored or changed my feel the presence at even more thank you in fords theater. I can see him being carried down that hallway late in that ed and its interesting, the time there was commentary that it was an appropriate that the president of the United States died in the house that lincoln was such a simple man. He would not have felt that way and also when the coffin was called for after lincoln had died it was not a fine coffin. Soldiers went to a military workshop and brought a long time box with a screw top lid and brought it inside. Lincolns body was wrapped in the American Flag and he was put in this box and the only sound in the room was the sound of the screws being tied in and of the holes. People were very upset to see the president this time box but it was almost poetic. He was really the roughly hewn coffin of a rail splitter that hearts back to lincolns origins as a pioneer pioneer boy in the young woodsman in illinois and indiana as a young man. And so i feel lincolns presence. In fact when i was working on manhunt i would often stand alone in the Peterson House in the bedroom and make my official notes on how to write that scene. All the time i was writing the book i must have come to awards 100 times. I would sit in the seats of ford said make no stride that can do the same thing in the Peterson House. These places are very important and emotional to me. They really are very much a part of my life and the researching of the books have done. Host before you go i want to ask about the 12 day chase the capture and ultimate death of john wilkesbooth but first we want to go to laura joining us from sun city california. Caller thank you. It is very much interested in the celebration of 150 years. I think the first time i learned about lincoln was probably through robert e. Lee traveler but thats all in the past and anyway blinken. Robert e. Lee homestead for a wonderful memorial part and then i learned about it more through walter knott at knots berry farm because he had applied when mccain was shot and of course while disney had the disneyland lincoln statue. Its been a disneyland for a long time but then of course i learned about the Lincoln Library which i understand is so i was just wondering how they Lincoln Library influence this persons life as as he wrote this wonderful book lacks. Host thank you laura. We will get a response. Guest im not sure i understood the question. It was a question about the Lincoln Library in springfield illinois but what was the question . Guest she was talking about really how so many people over the years including walt disney had tried to carry on the life of lincoln and bring him to life to people who obviously were not around when he was here in 1865. Guest i very much like that walt disney figure. As they called it the audio animatronic figure of lincoln that he created for the new york worlds fair 1963 improved tremendously popular so you made it a permanent attraction at disneyland and of course at disney world in the hall of president s theres so roomful of talking living president s. Im a big believer in getting history to people in all kinds of ways. Some historians scoff at a wax figures are moving figures but i enjoy. I think its a great way to reach people and i think walt disney had a huge role in popularizing Abraham Lincoln during the civil war centennial in the 1960s. So im all for that and also with the libraries and the museum exhibits come here at fords theater we brought together relics that havent been in one place in the last 150 years. I think her people will see relics and objects than will ever read my books are the books on Abraham Lincoln. Public Public Education is well served by everything from walt disney to Museum Exhibitions to reach out to the American People and inspire their interest in American History. Host James Swanson after discussing a couple of her implants including kidnapping the president and ultimately killing the president they came together pretty quickly on the day of april 14, 1865 because as we all know john wilkesbooth had heard the president was going to be coming to fords theater during the noon hour. I wonder if you can turn around and explain what happened after he fired the shots. He jumped onto the stage and then took off. Guest yes, well booth came to the theater at about 10 00. He had been there earlier to make presentations preparations. The same door lincoln came through the same curved staircase walk along the back wall. A few people who recognize booth the famous actor watched him and then he stood outside the first doorway leading to the vestibule that led to a second or that would lead to the president s box. Booth shoots lincoln during a moment when one actors on stage. He fires a shot he stabs Richard Rathbone and drops 12 feet to the stage. At that point booth did not want to conceal his identity. He could have shaved his mustache or warner disguise. Instead he stops, he faces the audience and he thrusts his chest in the air and cries out the south is avenged. Then he cries out the state motto of virginia. The new brand brandes is the bloodstained dagger that he used to stab major rathbone. The dagger was the motto land of the free home of the brave liberty independence independence. How ironic because Abraham Lincoln leads in exactly the same things. Those runs off stage and before he gets to the wings he utters one final exclamation. Its really a choice himself but a few patrons here. Booth says to himself i done it. And then he runs out the hallway hallway, goes out the backdoor to the fords theatre gets on his horse and galloped away. Hes gone before the audience realizes what has happened. Thats the first moment of his successful escape from fords theater and it took 12 days to hunt him down. Guest more event happening outside of fords theater. Well continue to listen in. He struck something. I looked down and i picked up a very small but notable derringer pistol trade that pistol is now property them or metropolitan police and my friends, please pray with me and pray for our beloved president. Thank you. [applause] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] host some of the sights and sounds of among tenth street in northwest northwest washington d. C. As people gather gather. Want to thank james wants and the author of the book manhunt the 12day chase for lincolns killer and we know if you have a tour coming up in just a couple of minutes. Final thoughts from you on this historic evening . Just go after spending a lifetime researching A Bram Lincoln. It A Bram Lincoln was not only our greatest president of one of the greatest americans who ever lived and he still lives today as a great example of how to live, how to do politics in several countries country so its very important that tonight we remember not just lincoln who was shot tonight. Tonight is a night at like to remember the living and the sources of the greatness and what he did for the American People. I would say dont remember april 14 and 15th just as his assassination in death. Remember who he was in life and what lessons he teaches us. Host james wants in the book sub for sub live manhunt the 12day chase for lincolns killer and those 30 lucky people that will be in the pearson house the events as they unfolded 150 years ago. Thank you for being here with us on cspan. David reynolds is joining us from new york as we continue to watch the scene here in washington d. C. Hes the author of a number of works including lincolns selected writings. Thank you for joining us here tonight are you. Guest its nice to be here. Host we have been talking about just how consequential this evening was in American History and how ironic it is as we look at the scene tonight it is very similar to the weather conditions and the moments as they unfolded april 14 and 15th in the overnight hours. Guest it really is. Its very similar and exactly 150 years ago this evening and not only that but the atmosphere is very similar. Because we are extremely polarized today and even though the civil war had just ended with appomattox five days earlier on april 14, the country was still extremely polarized at that time and thats why Abraham Lincoln was assassinated because john wilkesbooth really believed that the confederacy could be saved. Even after lee surrendered to grant that night, so the political atmosphere was incredibly polarized just as we are today, but Abraham Lincoln in his death as walt whitman suggested became a martyr and the National Memory that created the cement that brought together some of the disparate factions. Host David Reynolds this is the first time though an american president had been assassinated. Would it be a fair comparison for those who remember of course the horrific events of September September 11 a similar reaction by the American People quite how did the country react to the death of Abraham Lincoln plex. Guest extremely similar to 9 11 because there was paranoia fear suspicion. Innocent witnesses were brought in for questioning. Totally innocent and the crowds were yelling hang them, hang them. Because any time after a massive event of such tragedy inevitably the popular response is one of paranoia and fear and horror and shock. In the theater itself in the fords theatre at first there was total silence and then the screams of mrs. Lincoln and she was saying my husbands blood murder, murder and suddenly there was a surge in the theater and the crowd dispersed. Over about a day and a half after that there was other paranoia. Host we are talking with David Reynolds and i might have a jump in and just a moment because another recreation is going to be taking place outside of fords theater but lets hear from jeff, a quick question from mechanicsville virginia. No ahead jeff. Caller thank you. Mr. Reynolds just a quick question for you. While lincoln was being cared for how did they get the information out that john wilkesbooth was for killing the president . Guest thank you jeff ray at. Guest thats a great question, jeff. While what happened was because john wilkesbooth was a famous actor he was like the rob lowe or brad pitt of his day. He was recognized by so many people in the theater, particularly the actors to fairly quickly it was known that john wilkesbooth was the murder of Abraham Lincoln. And the whole question was how do we find this guy. He escaped to the south or maryland and virginia so there was a tremendous manhunt that occurred over the next 12 days. But identifying him was really no problem at all. Host he was 26 years old when he assassinated the president much of the discussion and the plotting of what happened to place just a few blocks away at the sorak house. Can you put that into perspective . Guest wellwisher question . I host go my question is how these events in older than why John Wilkes Booth assassinated the president applauding that took place a few blocks from fords theatre at the sorak house. Guest what happened was john wilkesbooth was a proconfederate from maryland and he detested Abraham Lincoln because of his antislavery views. John wilkes booth viewed Abraham Lincoln as a devil because he promoted the abolition of slavery and john wilkesbooth was a supremacist and antigathered around him certain conspirators who agreed with him and they were disgusted by the end of the civil war that appomattox five days earlier. So john wilkesbooth wanted to somehow totally disrupt the government by killing Lincoln William henry seward and Vice President johnson. Johnson was not killed because the guy that was supposed to kill him went out and had a drink and seward there was an attempt on sewards life rated he was only slightly injured but lincoln was killed so john wilkesbooth and wanted to disrupt the whole northern government and somehow he believed were stored the confederacy, restore the south and slavery. Host David Reynolds is the author of more than a dozen books and among his most recent lincolns selected writings. By this time 150 years years ago presently can could have been moved from fords theater across the street to the peterson boarding house and what was really essentially the deathwatch had begun. 100 people had been moved through Peterson House and it was at 7 22 a. M. The following morning that it was official our 16th president had died. We are going to watch the scene outside of Peterson House for the next couple of minutes and we will rejoin David Reynolds is who is joining us from new york city. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] ladies and gentlemen the president s poll says 45 his respirations are between 25 and 27. There is still no sign that he is aware but all efforts are being made to make him as comfortable as possible. Again thank you for your vigil. Host and the vigil continues in the overnight hours as we look back at the advance 150 years ago. David reynolds is joining us from dark city the author of a number of ox including lincolns selected writings and im wondering if you can go back 150 years ago and get a sense of just how quickly the early stages of the investigation was in place to track down john wilkesbooth. Guest the investigation was virtually immediate. Edward stanton the secretary of war in effect took over because the secretary of state seward had been attacked and stanton took over that evening and he was incredible and the rapidity with which he sent telegraphs. He sent messengers. He brought in witnesses to try to understand what was happening happening. You have to realize that no one really knew within the first hour of what had happened but i would say by 2 00 in the morning, it was known that john wilkesbooth was the murder of lincoln. Why . Because harry hawk who was the main actor in our american cousin, the play that lincoln had been watching, recognized booth and he and laura keene, the actress in a play recognized john wilkesbooth because booth was such a famous at your. As they say, a celebrity and you think of People Magazine or whatever he was a really famous guy and even though booth was different looking because his eyes were glaring and he was super excited so he didnt look totally himself but still he was recognized by the actors. Therefore by about 2 00 in the morning it was known that john wilkesbooth was the assassin. Host the book lincolns selected writings David Reynolds who is a professor at the university of new york is joining us from new york city. Thank you for adding your perspective to the events from 150 years ago and we will continue to look at the scene outside of fords state or on tenth street here in washington d. C. As i said just a few blocks from the white house and their phone lines are open. We want to get your thoughts on this historic evening here on cspan3 American History tv coming to you on cspan2 and a reminder every weekend on cspan3 we bring in 48 hours of the events that shaped American History. You can check out our full Schedule Information on line anytime at cspan. Org. Open phones for the next halfhour, lee is joining us from palmdale california. Good evening. Caller good evening. I cant help in watching this and i want to thank cspan for putting it on. Think its fantastic that this is being done by cspan. I cant help but relate to the kennedy assassination with this and i have a question to ask mr. Reynolds. I was curious when president kennedy was assassinated mrs. Kennedy restored to referred to a store called documents on the lincoln assassination to determine how it was going to play out. When president lincoln was assassinated mary lincoln have any president to go to or did she originate what later was duplicated with president kennedys funeral . Host lee thinks. Of course its been well accounted that on the evening of of mrs. Kennedy did that referring to what happened in 1865 so thank you for that comment. Im not sure about Mary Todd Lincoln and what she is for her own reference point. There is one photograph from about a week and a half later in 1865 where president lincolns body was lying in state in new york city, the only known photograph of president lincoln in the casket. We will go to ken joining us from Fremont California again like scenes outside of fords theatre in washington d. C. Caller good evening steve. In mr. Reynolds opinion what was the best lincoln had ever done. [inaudible] it was a lot better than Spielberg Lincoln that came out a few years ago when i would like to know his opinion about that. Thank you very much and thank you for cspan. Host our guest is not with us. This is a chance to reflect on the events from 150 years ago as we watch the scenes outside of wards theater. This is what it looks like live coverage here on cspan2. Its very hard to believe that just a few days after appomattox after the surrender we would find ourselves here in Washington City and hearing the news about the shooting tonight. For this to happen so suddenly at the end of the war when this is supposed to be a moment of jubilation and of all times on good friday. Whats the world coming to . That surrender ceremony was really something. Seeing the army of Northern Virginia pass through for the last time in coming to washington and seeing this and hearing this horrible news. We should stay here tonight and see whats going to happen. We can only pray for the president pray for our nation right now. Its the only thing we can do. Did you hear about the assassin and who was . No i didnt. He was the great actor john wilkesbooth. You are kidding me . The booth family. The great family of all the actors, it was that john wilkesbooth and somehow he got away. Im sure theres going to be a manhunt to try to find him. I am sure of that. I just dont understand whats happening to the world right now. Also i heard Vice President johnson was also attacked and secretary steward was stabbed in his bed as he slept. There are murders everywhere. Its a conspiracy of some type trade. I believe so. I saw the secretary of war walk into the building there so i think hes going to interrogate some people. I hope they can find him. Some of the actors recreating the offense from 150 years ago. Of course it was a 12 day manhunt for the capture and ultimate death of john wilkesbooth outside of wards theater where the president and first lady travel to see our american cousin andy was shot shortly after 10 12 p. M. Eastern time moved across to Peterson House and passed away at 7 22 in the morning the following day easter weekend. The president has fords theatre as you heard from the reenactors on good friday a few days after the settlement and the Peace Agreement that appomattox, writing the conclusion of the civil war. Back to your phonecalls and your comments here on cspan2 part of our American History tv coverage. Carl from londonderry new hampshire, good evening. Caller good evening steve. Very great coverage, very great. Im a history buff anyway but anyway my question is this. Im wondering if you could clear up some confusion. Recently i saw the killing of lincoln on television and one of the points that was made was with the shooting of lincoln there was so much confusion afterwards. People were trying to take mementos for historical significance from the theater and the behringer that was used, the 44 caliber behringer that was used by booth that killed president lincoln which was recovered by a reporter who gave it to a metropolitan police officer. And thats where no one knew what happened after that. The gun was never found. Now today i read in the New York Post that the gun is on display at ford museum. Now which is correct . Host i can answer the question definitively. I know based on a piece from the smithsonian. Com bet that gun isnt back on display. Theres also a museum and you can see its adjacent to fords theater that includes the top hat and a jacket, the overcoat that the present war and also some who attended to the present including some of the actresses that we heard from earlier tonight pound, parts of the dress have still survived although not the entire dress. There are many artifacts that can take you back to the event on display not only a smithsonian but the museum adjacent to fords theater. You are on the air. Your comment. Caller i am in American History buff myself and also and historical reenactor. Im a professional john wayne impersonator of many years but the irony comes through between the lincoln and the kennedy assassinations. Tightly wound through history and its always something of a melancholy like we are talking about tonight are like you are talking about 150 years ago to what it is tonight and how the crowds have come back and everything is so much the same. I had an instructor for history that told us that history lives to repeat itself and we are watching it again. To me, this is fantastic. Host john thanks very much for the call. One of her goals during the course of our coverage is really to take you outside of the fords theatre. There was upper arm its earlier in the evening and many people including reenactors to reimagine what it was like on the evening that we lost our 16th president. Suddenly realization came to the audience along with the demand for retribution. Scores poured over onto the stage. A few persons ran to the lobby to ascend to the box. Pistols were drawn and the search for booth commenced. Thank you for your story. Thank you for listening. Thats pretty awesome. Host from watsonville california, jeff is next. Good evening. Caller hello. My question is at the death of president lincoln, Edward Stanton is reported to have said now he belongs to the ages. I have read a lot of old newspapers at the time and i have never seen that quote so i wonder if anybody knows when that quote really happened . Thank you. Host thanks for the comment. Tom is next in claire wisconsin good evening. Caller good evening sir are my question is the reaction that people had during president lincolns assassination. I was curious to know if the same reactions people had during president kennedys assassination . Thank you for having me and i love cspan. Host tom what is your own impression plex were you around when john f. Kennedy was assassinated . Guest no sir i was born in 1976 but i have studied the history of the president s and i was just wondering in regards to how the reaction was to lincolns assassination being our first president to be assassinated to our fourth and last president john f. Kennedy when he was assassinated and 63. Host lets listen in outside of fords theater right now. Pistols were drawn and the search for booth commenced. So soon after you in the end at the work. A real tragedy. All the celebration and excitement that we were expecting at the end of the war and gone and instead. Do you have any idea which direction he was headed . I couldnt say. I saw him leave the alleyway and he was off like a shot. Are there conferences perhaps. I heard there were. I know only only know of booth but a vast conspiracy they are saying. Thank you for listening to my story. Anyone who left the theater today were under the same [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] its a replica that seats 600 people but back then it sat about 1800. And everyone, it was a big celebration in now because the president was coming to see a show. The word was out and they had special things happening that might and everyone was in a wonderful mood because it was the end of the war. And it turned into a rather horrible night. Thank you. You did a great job. Thank you. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] have you heard some of the other accounts this evening . A few of them. He put a hole in the door. He came to the theater the day before and put a hole in lincolns box. I dont know. I was backstage and saw the shot being fired. Booth leaping off of the box and running straight at me and out the door in the back. Nothing quite like it in my life. Did the president come to the theater a lot to you no . M. Is this the theater . s. Fords is certainly the biggest one. I live in d. C. [inaudible] you have tried to addition for all of those. Thank you. Thank you. Host as you look at the scene unfold imagine what the moment was like 150 years ago. The war had come to an end and now the vigil had begun for president Abraham Lincoln who had been shot behind the left ear and was carried across the street with his polls getting ever weaker and a few hours after the shot he would pass away. Whats happening right now outside of wards theater courtesy of the National Park service and recreation of sorts of the events to give you some perspective from 150 years ago. Chas is joining us from Miami Florida with a comment. Good evening to you. Caller good evening to you. My wife and i are very touched by this and we wish we were there. Im a researcher and writer for the Florida Humanities and the other emancipator of the americas. I wanted to share an anecdote because sometimes we forget that lincoln was a world figure and of course we know the story about the russian serfs asking tolstoy about this great emancipator in a faraway land where people spend their lives getting to and never reaching. But closer there were the spanish colonies of cuba and embroiled in an awful struggle trying to emancipate its own slaves or enslaved people. Jose markey was 13 years old when lincoln died and was a great supporter of the union. He took to wearing an armband. In fact all union people in havana which was a very cosmopolitan city rival by new york at the time were armband. The spanish thought this was provocative. Of course they wanted to hold onto slavery so they started confining people for wearing the armband. People had to take the armband off so what they did is they paid the fine and penned the receipt of the fine on their lapel. I just love that story because you really cant hide freedom will out everything. Im just very touched by this. Thank you very much. Host such as bank you and for all of you with your calls and comments and questions. The scene outside of fords theater. The vigil will continue overnight if you are in the washington d. C. Area. You can travel the 10 straight in the words theater and the Peterson House. Tomorrow morning the ceremony will conclude with the announcement of the death of resident lincoln. He officially died at 7 22 in the morning on april 15, 1865 and we will have live coverage on cspan2 if you want to check it out. This has been a special presentation of American History tv. You can find this every weekend on cspan3 48 hours of the people and events that document the american story but right now we want to take you inside Peterson House with some perspective on this historic location where the hour 16th president had his last breath before he passed away 150 years ago. Up next to tour the former boarding house located across the street from fords theater were Abraham Lincoln was shot 150 years ago. Around to 10 15 the doors of fords theater burst open and dozens and hundreds and over a thousand people came rushing out of the door screaming. At first some people thought the theater was on fire and then they heard the shouts link it has been shot. The president has been killed. Find the assassin and that got the attention of the residents of this boarding house. The first person who knows what was happening was a guy named George Francis who lived in the third for the different rooms. He came outside and walked into the street and he could only get halfway across. People were screaming. He walked up to the president s body as he was being carried across the street. Another border on the second floor Henry Stafford heard the noise. He came downstairs and saw the commotion too and he heard the shouts that lincoln had been shot. Safford couldnt get to fords theater. There were so many people outside in the street so he came back to his house and went up the stairs and stood at the top of the staircase. He was up there watching as the soldiers pounded on the door of the house next door. They couldnt get in. He saw that there was lincoln in the middle of the street being carried by soldiers and they didnt know where to take the president. Safford went inside, got a candle and stood at the top of the staircase and shouted ring him in here, bring him in here. Dr. Leo heard that and shouted to the officers and soldiers take the president to that house so across the street and came up the stairs. And so is lincoln was being carried up the staircase he was still alive unconscious. And the sight of Abraham Lincoln here at the top of the staircase was last the last time the American People saw him alive. So dr. Leo came in the store and they told safford, take us to your best room. The hallway is narrow. It was filled with a link in the entourage, the doctors and the soldiers and there was a narrow staircase on the right. Safford knew the best room was the front parlor occupied by georgian held by francis so he reached for the door here and it was locked. He went down to the second door here. This door was locked. Hilda francis was inside frantically getting dressed. She had seen a president being brought to the house through the front windows and so she was already dressed for bed. The surgeons had exhausted every effort and all hope was gone