Test. Test. Test. Test. Test. Test. Test. Also a member of the wig Political Party and todd and clay shared some political ideas especially in regard to slavery. Both clay and todd supported the American Colonization Society which was a movement to resettle freed blacks back to liberia. So this represents yet another view on slavery that mary lincoln was exposed to as a chi child. This is the gentlemans parlor of the house and its a section of the house that would have been offlimits to the women, but according to one of Mary Todd Lincolns cousins, mary would like to sit in on the political conversations when her father was entertaining the prominent men of the day. Mary lincoln might have taken an interest in politics to help garner attention from her father who was very active in state and local politics. And our next caller is from lexington, kentucky. John is on the line. John, your question or comment. Hello, thank you for taking my call. I certainly appreciate the empathetic and
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
point on both sides because people have anticipated this for so long. some people were itching for a fight. they think war is a glorious thing and let s go and do it. but in the spring, lincoln s overeager young friend from springfield, elmer ellsworth, a short but very dashing commander of a drill team would go with the lincoln boys to the roof of the white house and look out with a telescope. and over the river they saw a confederate flag flying from the top of a hotel. and ellsworth, for one, was offended. ellsworth led a band across the river to tear down the confederate flag. as he was walking down the stairs, the owner of the inn took his shotgun and shot him in the chest. he fell down the last few steps, clutching and wrapped in this increasingly block-soaked flag. lincoln loved this young man so the war came home really fast for lincoln. with the first cannon fired at ft. sumter in april 1861, the country thrust into civil war. and the fate of the united sta
Cokie this is a neighbor of mine, as well. We live very close to each other. I live in the house that i grew up in. The shes newer to the neighborhood. I probably moved there before she was born. But what a fabulous contribution she made to this community. Really. [applause] cokie really wonderful. In addition to taking on this now Legendary Store a legend in washington, doing the National Book fair was really a challenge and one that was well met. Didnt you guys go . My grandsons are here. You have to pay attention. You have to sit up and pay attention. [laughter] cokie but really they did a fabulous job. My College Roommate is here. You see its all the old and another college classmate. Its the old gang. And robert stevens, my roommate when i was in college, helped me type my papers late at night. And she couldnt help me finish this book and it was really upsetting to me. Because i was very late in getting it in. But it was great fun to do. I appreciate your words. I started on this