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Our American Cousin, Brother and SisterPosted Tuesday, April 14, 2009, at 3:12 PM
I thought maybe that I should write something about Abraham Lincoln's assassination on the anniversary of this sad event. It has been 144 years now since the first successful assassination of a US President. Since then we have had 3 more Presidents killed while in office, Garfield, McKinley and, of course, Kennedy. John Wilkes Booth, Charles Julius Giteau, Leon Frank Czolgosz and Lee Harvey Oswald were the notorious assassins for these senseless killings. Not quite as renown, Richard Lawrence attempted to kill Andrew Jackson back in 1835. Lawrence was considered by most who knew him to be mentally ill, while he considered himself to be Richard III King of England. Fortunately for President Jackson, both of Lawrence's pistols misfired due to moisture in the gunpowder. On April 14th, 1835, 30 years prior to the day of Lincoln's assassination, Lawrence was found not guilty by reason of insanity. The prosecuting attorney was a fellow by the name of Francis Scott Key, who later wrote about "the bombs bursting in air". There have been several other failed attempts on Presidents' lives over the years including: Oscar Collazo's and Griselio Torresola's attempt to kill Harry Truman, Richard Pavlik's attempt on JFK, Samuel Byck's attempt to kill Richard Nixon, Squeaky Fromme's and Sara Jane Moore's attempts on Gerald Ford, John Hinckley's attempt on Ronald Reagan, and the bullet spraying Francisco Martin Duran's attempt on Bill Clinton. Giuseppe Zangara attempted to kill then President-elect FDR in Miami in 1933, but he missed and killed Anton Cermak, the Mayor of Chicago. There are those who say that Cermak was the target and not FDR. Cermak had vowed to clean up organized crime in Chicago and that didn't go over well with Frank Nitti and his crew. John Schrank, who said the ghost of William McKinley had told him to kill Theodore Roosevelt, shot the former President in the chest but failed to kill him. As Roosevelt said in his speech later that morning ... "it takes more than that to kill a Bull Moose". Vladimir Arutyunian, a Georgian, supposedly attempted to kill George W. Bush with a hand grenade and was later convicted and sentenced to life in prison, but there are so many conflicting reports on the type, condition and lethality of the hand grenade in question that I'm not sure what to believe. No Vlad the Impaler, this guy was more like Vlad the Imbecile. Many of you will remember that Abraham and Mary Lincoln brought Major Henry Rathbone and Clara Harris as guests to the President's box at Ford's theater on the night of the assassination. Major Rathbone was seriously injured when he tried to stop Booth from escaping. Booth slashed Rathbone's arm with a dagger prior to leaping and falling to the stage. Clara was the daughter of Senator Ira Harris, who was appointed to fill the Senatorial seat left vacant when William Seward was named Secretary of State. She wound up marrying Major Rathbone and they had a son who later became a Congressman from Illinois. Secretary of State Seward was also attacked by one of Booth's co-conspirators, Lewis Powell, on the night of Lincoln's assassination. This botched attempt by Powell resulted in serious injuries to Seward and three of his children, who tried to protect him. Seward's wife Frances was taken ill with anxiety, most likely brought on by the Powell encounter and died of a heart attack just a little over a month later. Seward lived on at least long enough to buy Alaska for 2 cents per acre. In 1882, Henry Rathbone was appointed as Consul to Hanover, Germany. After a year in Germany, Rathbone, who had apparently lost his mind, shot and killed his wife Clara, tried to kill his children and stabbed himself but lived through the ordeal. He told his captors that he heard voices from behind the pictures on the walls. He remained incarcerated at an asylum in Germany for another 29 years until his death. Henry Rathbone not only murdered his wife but he also killed his step sister. After Henry's father died (a very wealthy man who was also the Mayor of Albany, New York), his mother Pauline remarried and her new husband was none other than Judge Ira Harris, Clara's father. Henry and Clara were raised together as brother and sister from an early age. For those of you who enjoy historical fiction (how's that for an oxymoron), you might try reading Thomas Mallon's novel "Henry and Clara". Not bad, not bad at all. Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
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Historical fiction is a favorite of mine, and one of the better writers lives nearby. James Alexander Thom, who was born in Gosport, lives near Whitehall west of Bloomington.
He has written some great books, including "Sea to Shining Sea" about the Clark family of Virginia, including George Rogers Clark and William Clark of Lewis & Clark. "Panther in the Sky" about Tecumseh is my favorite, although I have read all of his books, and enjoy them all.
One of his lesser known books is "Staying out of Hell" which has a strong autobiographical element to it. It is about growing up in Gosport.
Currently, I am reading his most recent novel, "St. Patrick's Battalion," a story about the Mexican-American war, which he viewed as nothing more than a land grab by President
Other books of his include "Long Knife" about George Rogers Clark, and "Sign-Talker" about George Drouillard, translator for Lewis & Clark.
Another book I have on my list to read is "Hoosier Gothic" - a murder story situated in Daviess County in the early 20th century, based on actual events. I misplaced the book in my move to Colorado here, and have yet to find it.
If it weren't for historical fiction, I'd know much less history than I do, actually.
I too have read some historical fiction and have enjoyed the reading. It bothers me sometimes when I hear friends offer quotes from historical figures taken from these novels however. It is imperative to distinguish the history from the fiction.
I was introduced to Thom by my old buddy Odell Wright and I agree that Thom is a very good writer. I kind of figured that "Long Knife" would be your favorite since it is about one of your ancestors.
There is a good movie, "One Man's Hero", about the San Patricios or the Saint Patrick's Brigade that was made in the late 90's with Tom Berenger, if you are interested.
Please tell Odell "Hello" for me - we graduated from BHS togethor back in 1971. I remember seeing Odell at a 30 year class reunion we had back in 2001.
Yes, you are correct in that the fiction sometimes becomes the fact in my muddied mind - I try to keep the two separate, though. I used Thom's novels about Lewis & Clark as a reason to read non-fiction about the actual Corps of Discovery. I ended up reading their notebooks, which were the basis of much of Thom's two books, and fascinating in their own right. Especially Clark, whose notes were more extensive and descriptive than the sometimes dark Meriwether.
The idea that we were descended from the family of George Rogers Clark started me off on researching our family tree. It turns out that we come from a different line of Clarks from South Carolina, no direct connection was ever found to George & William Clark of Virginia.
I am still looking for my Hoosier Gothic book, it has been on my reading list for too long.
What a man Teddy Roosevelt was...taking a bullet in the chest and then going ahead and giving his speech. Wow.
............
My favorite historical fiction to date has been Colleen McCullough's "Masters of Rome" series. Though she adds lots of detail to make a story for us, she closely follows what we have accepted as "factual history". Starting around 102 B.C. with Gais Marius and Lucius Cornelius Sulla she takes us through the fall of the republic to the death of the great Julius Ceasar and the young Augustus's rising.
The books were so good I fell in love with Ceasar and found myself cheering him on. Colleen McCullough's books sparked an interest in me about the republic/empire of Rome that continues to this day. I highly recommend the "Masters of Rome" series.
First of all......thanks again Keith for another interesting story. Now.... even though I know this doesn't have anything to do with Keith's blog, I've got to say hello to Lil' Hahn. I also graduated from BHS in 1971! Can you give me a hint of who you are? Here's mine: Odell's daughter married my son.
Lil'Hahn is Wiglund's brother.
I'm LIke Simmmons Historica Fiction is how some people learn history but I feel sometimes it becomes HISTORY and it isn't.
Take the last PEARL HARBOR movie as an example. I gave it a C in history but a B+ as a movie since it had a lot of "COOL" stuff happening. I know that watching the movie the 'LONGEST DAY" got me interested in D-Day.
We discussed this same topic in Church tonight.
Why read Christian Fiction when you NEED to read the real thing.... Iknow cause we think the Real thing is Boring! LOL
So I guess if reading the Fiction makes you want to learn the real FACTS then I guess it does its job.
Historical fiction can open the door of interest and learning, it can capture your imagination and pull you in. I have a copy of Ceasars Gallic Wars written by the man himself in Latin with every sentence having a English translation below it...I would have never picked the book up were it not for having read the historical fiction series "Masters of Rome" first.
Irving Stone's The Agony and the Ecstasy - based on the life of Michelangelo was a good book to read before one of my trips to Italy back in the 90's...then to behold The Pieta in Saint Peter's Basilica was an experience I shall never forget...then to walk into the Sistine Chapel and feel the pull on my eyes upwards towards the heavens...I still get goosebumps from that one..
The Passions of the Mind - based on the life of Sigmund Freud was another great book.
The Greek Treasure - based on the discovery of Troy by Heinrich Schliemann left me with wanting to explore Greece someday.
The Origin - based on the life of Charles Darwin was another good historical fiction read.
And to me, "history" is accurate only in theory, and perhaps on video. I say this because everything written by the hands of man is with error. My personal experience with this was when my ex and I owned and operated an Italian restaurant on the north side of Indy from 1996 through 2003...over those years we were written about in The Indianapolis Monthly, The Indianapolis Star, Nouvo, Reid Duffy's Duffy's Diner, P.E. MaCallister's Across Indiana, as well as by a few others, and let me tell you every single time there was a story done about us it would have several significant errors of fact within it. Never was anything put into print about us completely true, or accurate. Our personal history is full of untruths...and it occured to me that so is all history. An oxymoron (plural oxymora (greek plural) or, more often, oxymorons) is a figure of speech that combines two normally contradictory terms. Oxymoron is a loanword from Greek oxy ("sharp" or "pointed") and moros ("dull"). Thus the word oxymoron is itself an oxymoron.
History is both sharp, and dull.
History is an oxymoron.
6blessings - my name is Richard Clark. I live in Denver these days, with my wife Gail and three cats. I did not always keep up with the local news of all my classmates. Please fill me in on your news. Were you at the reunion in 2001 in Linton? I have a photo here of everyone who attended that gathering.
hopeanddust: Your comments are totally spot-on. Caesar's version of the Gallic Wars, the text that every second year Latin student is given to translate "Gaul, as a whole, is divided into three parts ..." is viewed, by some, as a political diatribe designed to aggrandize his accomplishments and further his career.
No doubt that Caesar was a military genius, but having the most highly trained and equipped army in the world did help. There is some debate on why Rome really needed to expand its borders to the north as Caesar did. The Romans already had established trade routes and agreements with many of the various Celtic tribes. It would be like the US invading Canada simply because it is there. I have read at least one essay that presents that view.
If the Celtic tribes were a bit more organized, and Vercingetorix hadn't made crucial strategic errors at Alesia, the history may have been a bit different. Still, fighting the Roman Army under any general's leadership was a formidable task.
At any rate, if Vercingetorix had his chance to write his version, I'm sure the history would have read quite a bit differently.
Morgan Llewellyn wrote a very enjoyable historical novel about Vercingetorix and the Celts titled "Druids." A bit romanticized, perhaps, but a good story nonetheless, and it gives a different view than Caesar's, of course.
I'm afraid I have to apologize to Simmons here, as I think I sidetracked his whole story above. To even things out, I'm going to pick up "Henry and Clara" on his recommendation.
And I am going to pick up Druids (with no apologies to Simmons ::wink::).
passing a message along to all fellow "groupies " of Simmons...a former poster wants you to know she really misses you guys but continues to enjoy reading your banter and intelligence shared! She thanks you for often putting a smile on her face! YOU ALL STILL CRACK HER UP!
So, now I can add "simmons groupie" to my list of achievements? I guess its only fair that I should crack someone up, since I seem to be just a bit cracked myself.
Lil' Hahn: I, too must apologize to Simmons for another reason as I am using his site for my own personal use of tracking down an "old" classmate. I tried to send you an email using an outdated address on the BHS Alumni site. It was returned. I also must admit if I had read your entire 2nd posting, I would have known who you were as you referenced being a Clark decendant from SC and not VA. In our "school days" we grew up in the same neighborhood (the West end is the Best end)and yes I'm sure I'm in your photo!
Try this e-mail address: Richard.Clark@nielsen.com - I tried to update that BHS alumni site, but I couldn't figure it out.
Did you know that Wiglund once built a raft and tried to float down the river to New Orleans? We had a big flood that year, and the water was right up to the bank down off of Sunset Drive.
Hopeanddust, you make some great points on the value of fiction! Thanks! Furthermore, fiction from a certain period can provide great insight into the culture of a certain time period. For example: Mark Twain's wonderful insight into pre-civil war life in Missouri...
Don't get me wrong, I think reading history is very important, too.
No apologies necessary. Blogs mean never having to say your sorry...I think Ryan O'Neal, or Ryan Newman or Alfred E Newman said that. No one enjoys the responses, no matter where they go, more than I do. And I get so many ideas from what I read. Shoot, I may have to do a Tom Sawyer/Huck Finn piece on Wigs now.
Have I ever wrote about Wiglund's fishing adventure? Just thinking about the great Eel Master brings back wonderful memories.
Joe Hart, if you're out there reading this, just know we're all thinking about you. Take care.
At the start of your writing you listed all the knownw successful and attempted assassinations of our Presidents to date.
You did fail to mention the most recent attempt made on an American President. This a attempt was by an Iraqi journalist . I believe a size 10 loafer was the weapon.