you suckkkkk

There were five, not four, occupants of the presidential box at the time of Booth's entrance: Charles Forbes, Lincoln's personal attendant, was also present, as his affidavit makes clear. Interestingly, Forbes' presence was systematically excluded from the official record in the assassination's aftermath, not least from the witness stand statement of Major Rathbone. It is also worth noting that both Union and Confederate intelligence used actors as spies. In the spring of 1862, for example, Union intelligence in St. Louis detained an actor on suspicion of spying for the South. His name was John Wilkes Booth. It was a goodly stroke of fortune for Booth that Union intelligence in Washington was either unaware of this detention, or else surprisingly trusting.

Do a little research, Desiree. Like everything else Bill O'Reilly has ever touched, that Lincoln assassination book is chock-full of factual errors. Please, please, please don't believe everything you read.

http://www.csmonitor.com/Books/chapter-and-verse/2011/1025/Bill-O-Reilly-s-Killing-Lincoln-is-Lincoln-Lite

http://www.salon.com/2011/11/12/fords_theatre_flunks_oreillys_lincoln_book/singleton/

I just finished reading "Killing Lincoln" by Bill O'Reilly and the answers to most of your questions of answered in it. Be warned though, that it is a in depth account that is the last 6 weeks of President Lincoln's life and it is an emotional and driven piece of writing.

Hello:
Was this "dirty cop", Parker a member of the same Parkers, the relatives Martha Washington, wife of George Washington, the first U.S. President? If so, he most likely carried a lot of cultural and political clout. Thus granting and guaranteeing him fantastic life opportunities and keeping him free of consequences...

What if anything was done about this lack of protection?? Seems like John Parker should have been held with some responsibility for this!!! I am just shocked!!!

O.k. Parker and Crook. Was one of the other two Presidential bodyguards named Hugh McHugh? My grandmother had a conspiricy theory that she shared with me that included a man named Hugh McHugh, who may have later worked for Pinkerton. Thanks.

I was always interested in the door which led to the Presidential Box at Ford's theatre. When I was about 10, I remember taking a field trip to the Smithsonian and on display was the door to the Presidential box. In that door was drilled a hole, which I was told Booth used to see the President's location. I've search the internet and I can not find any theories on who drilled this hole. Was it Booth? And with the President deciding last minute to attend this play, who would have had the time or planned out this smallest detail with Booth?

This is truly a shocking example of how incompetents who could not do their jobs have affected history.

I would be grateful for any and all information on John Fredrick Parker. Before Lincoln was killed, during Parkers time as a Policeman and after his time as a policeman.

I am also looking for a photograph of Parker. Please include credits. Although I have no intention at this to do anything with this nformation other then to put it together, I like to have the history of the information for my files.

Thank You in Advance,

Chuck Gallagher
mpdchistory1861@yahoo.com

Establishment of the Washington Metropolitan Police Force 150 Years Ago. http://civilwarwashingtondc1861-1865.blogspot.com/2011/09/establishment-of-washington.html

When Mary Todd Lincoln woke John Parker up, and queried him as to what he was dreaming; he didn't really tell her he was dreaming of being America's first Air Traffic Controller. Really?

Major Henry Rathbone and his fiancée Clara Harris were also in the Presidential box that evening. Years later, they got married and while on living in Germany as a U.S. diplomat, Rathbone killed his wife. His mental health had been deteriorating in the previous years. -- He lived the rest of his life in a mental institution in Germany and was buried next to his wife. -- In 1952, due to lack of interest in his grave, the cemetery caretakers in Germany decided to dispose of their remains.

Was the derringer pistol used have a ball, or bullet?

President Lincoln had dreams and prophecy about his death. He predicted it . very good article btw

It was my understanding from a book I read that Lincoln actually requested Parker that night while sitting at the telegraph office earlier in the day. That along with Mary's recommendation might substantiate that he was indeed related to Mary somehow. Also his not being fired with all of the offences prior to that fateful night indicates that he was connected to someone high up.

One point not mentioned that I found interesting; if there was a family connection between Mary Todd Lincoln and Officer Parker, could that be why he was allowed so much leaniancy?

All though I'm from England I love American history and this article was fascinating. Just think if Lincoln had survived quite alot would have changed in the present.

I think Booth counted on his celebrity allowing him access to Lincoln. He had the assassination exquisitely timed, so I don't think he was worried about not getting in. Remember too that Grant was originally supposed to be there as well. I believe Booth felt like Ford's Theater was "home turf" to him. He knew it and the play by heart.

Also, with regard to Mudd, some of his relatives have tried to clear his name, but he was IMO, guilty. He knew Booth beforehand and it is likely he was aware of the host of conspiracies Booth had planned over the years (mostly kidnapping Lincoln). He was in Confederate-sympathizing territory. That part of MD was full of spies and anti-Union activity.

Excellent article. Always the little details that are most important.

The fact is that anyone could be killed by a persistent, patient, imaginative assassin.

The idea that civil rights was a democratic issue was started durring the 1964 Presidential Election when Republican senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona voted against the bill, remarking, "You can't legislate morality." The reason for his opposition to the 1964 bill was Title II (outlawed discrimination in public accommodations engaged in interstate commerce.) Most Democrats from the Southern states opposed the bill, including Senators Albert Gore, Sr. (D-TN), J. William Fulbright (D-AR), and Robert Byrd (D-WV).
We have to remember that in Lincoln's time all the way up to the late 1960's that the Democratic Party owned the South. Republicans didn't abandon civil rights after Lincoln's death this is evidenced by several failed proposed legislation such as the 1868, 71, 75, 1957, 1960, 1964. After 1964 the issue turned into less about government's ability to pass legistlation that allowed discriminatory policy and more into granting government more power to control and regulate busineses to please their ends and desires.Had Lincoln lived my bet is that he would have largely been unremembered and forgotten about except in the minds of a few people. This is evidenced by his sheer unpopular status after winning the 1860 election with less than 40% of the popular vote (there were 4 different political parties that divided the vote that year. It is one of the reasons that we now have a 2 party system today.) He was extremly unpopular coming into office and only won reelection because the Confederate States of America didn't participate in the election so he prety much won his northern states votes again. Lincoln only gained popularity years after he was assisinated. Had this not happened, we would have simply forgotten about him. Other recourses might have been a faster and more prosperous period of Reconstruction and readmittence to the Union of the former Confederacy. I am being too abstract here. There is no way of knowing what might have really happened had Abe lived.

Again thank you for such a wonderful story on Lincoln. Before I pass I will go see Smithsonian and see all the wonders of past and present HISTORY.
Thanks to Paul Martin for a trip back in HISTORY.

Richard Sumner:

Bull Sumner was dead. General Edwin Vose "Bull" Sumner, the oldest field commander on either side of the Civil War, died of a heart attack in 1863. He was 66.

Barbara:

The bullet entered the back quarter of Lincoln's head just a little lower than his left ear. The bullet lodged behind his right eye. On its way through it gouged a nearly half-inch wide hole through his brain. The bullet and about a half dozen skull fragments were removed during the autopsy and preserved. They reside in the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology collection in Washington, DC. The illustration is a rather dramatic picture sold by the print makers Currier and Ives. While inspired by the event, it can not be in any way be considered a perfectly accurate account of the assassination.

The "ladies handgun" was a Philadelphia Deringer in .41 caliber. I have fired several examples of this weapon, and it is a serious weapon. The bullet for this is about as big around as a .410 shotgun shell. In fact, the .41 caliber ball is larger and heavier than a standard slug used in a modern day police sidearm. Granted the powder charge behind the bullet is not very big, but this little deringer still has a healthy kick.

For more specific information on this particular weapon see the following article on the FBI, website.

http://www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/fsc/backissu/jan2001/schehl.htm

The glaring thread that lives on, today, expressed in this article, is the appathy of responsibility regarding what "the job" requires, be it "a guard" or "being a politician". Even today, those who have the responsibility of running the country, or guarding those who do, appear to be more concerned about "what's in it for them" or "how it affects their image", rather than "what's their responsibility toward the country".

Parker's grave should be marked if only to maintain knowledge of his failure and role in history

I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT A MEMBER OF MY FAMILY WAS A BODYGUARD TO LINCOLN. HIS NAME WAS "NELSON" TO CONFIRM THIS...WHAT ARE THE NAMES OF THE OTHER TWO BODYGUARDS. WAS TOLD MY RELATIVE WAS NOT ON DUTY THAT FATEFUL NIGHT! WHERE CAN I GET THIS INFORMATION?

RUTH ZABUKOVIC

What is equally interesting is what happened to Henry and Clara Rathbone after that fateful night. It is a fascinating story told in a remarkable novel entitled HENRY AND CLARA by Thomas Mallon. It is much to be recommended for anyone who wants to know more about the young couple who were the invited guests of President and Mrs. Lincol on that evening at Ford's.

In the book "The Night Lincoln was Shot", it was supposed to be an Army Major or Captain who unexpectedly got up from his chair outside the box which left the President unprotected at the time of the assassination. Out of all the people that were investigated, this soldier was never interrogateD. WHICH IS THE TRUTH???

I just always wonder how different the U.S./world would be if Lincoln had not been assassinated.

The bullet that Lincoln was shot with entered below his left ear and came out above and behind his right eye.
In the drawings it shows Lincoln being shot from behind.? ? ?
Lincoln was observed to be sleeping with his head resting on Mrs. Lincoln's shoulder.
The gun used was a small hand derringer, basically a lady's hand gun.

My grandfather was on a white house tour. He left the tour group to seek a bathroom, opened a door, and came face to face with... Herbert Hoover. How we've progressed that assasination is so common!

Very good reading! Unfortunately a lot of misinformation comes out in the follow on comments. Particularly the comment by Bill @ the Republican party. In no way did the ideals Lincoln stood for die after his death. It was the DEMOCRATS who fought civil rights efforts in the 50's and 60's. (Just because Republicans predominantly oppose the policies of a president (who happens to be black - so what) doesn't mean they oppose equal and fair treatment for all. Also, the allowance of uninvited guests to President Obama;s affair was due to the Presidents social secretary overriding the directives the Secret Service closely adheres to. They are trained to "take a bullet" for the president no matter what and they are fiercely stringent in providing the utmost security - forever vigilant!

somewhere i read that john wilkes booth father also
shot at or attempted to shoot an earlier president

i beleive it was william henry harrison

so sad the incident happened as the president is exposed to harm.

What were the other two guards' names? I've heard all my life that my gr.gr.grandfather was Abraham Lincoln's body guard and helped carry him to his death bed. When we went to the Lincoln Museum in IL, they didn't have the info and couldn't confirm it.
I've heard he wasn't on duty at the time, but am relieved to hear the actual guard's name to rule it out.

The book "The Lincoln Conspiracy" details many more events of his assassination than this one question. There were many events surrounding the assassination and the search for the assassin which indicate a conspiracy within the government to kill Lincoln. The placing of this bad choice of a guard is only one facet of the picture. Well worth the reading.

Great research. Very good article on an unknown participant that fateful night.

What about the safety of the citizens of the soveriegn states he invaded? What about the safety of the people whom had their homes and crops burned by Sherman. What about the safety of immigrants whom were conscripted as they got off the ship in northern harbors to fight for his war of aggression against his neighbor states (nations)? what about the safety of the slaves he didn't free in non Confederate states?

He is my favorite President; I'd being to the Ford Theater and seen at the museum they have in the basement, letters written by him to mothers of soldiers in the civil war; he was a great man, full of emphaty toward man kind. His kindness and own suffering shows dramatically, I can say in the last picture taken of him, and shown in this short documentary. I appreciate the oportunity of having been able to see it. The fact that he wasn't appropiately protected dosn't make sense, even in Roman times the Emperors where heavely protected. No one can change history and no one should forget the man that showed the world; we are all human beings, and should treat each other the way we want to be treated. No one should have the right to enslave anyone.

One of my great gandfathers was Allen Pinkerton, founder of the Pinkerton dective agency. Allen was Lincolns bodyguard for a while and wasnt allowed up with Lincoln during the assination night. If he was history would be a lot different.

Mudd was the doctor that patched Booth up after the assassination. At the time, he didn't know what Booth had done. Even still, Dr. Mudd's name was disgraced by our government. It was generations before his name was cleared.
To this day, people still say "your name is Mudd" for just that reason.

This is a great article. I would really like to know what happened to Parker after this

I love Lincoln! Based on historical facts and various write-ups about him,I find it very inspiring of him on aspects of greater importance like preservation of the union and safeguarding of human freedom irregardless of color. It is then my personal quest to at least come up close with the guy's achievement and development of his character - a fearless advocate of truth and a symbol of courage. His strength comes from within him - he doesn't care what people say and do to him. He's not scared about anything. He's ready to be accountable and be responsible for what he did. Maybe because he is at peace with his God. If Lincoln was a catholic, he could be canonized as a saint. But catholic or not, he is my patron saint.

Most people don't realize there were others in the booth with the Lincoln's. Major Henry Rathbone & his wife, Clara, were with the Lincoln's that night. Major Rathbone was stabbed in the neck after Booth shot the President. Rathbone survived. Major Rathbone was related to Basil Rathbone, otherwise known as "Sherlock Holmes".

It s is to wonder what road the assassination brought the republican party down. At one time the republican championed civil rights but with the murder of Lincoln it died with him and today the republican party represents everything Lincoln hated

It is my belief that Parker is in no way responsible for President Lincolns death. Things were different back then. National security was an afterthought. This article points this out quite well. So what if Parker went next door to have a couple drinks. Let us not forget Mr. Lincoln was in the company of Major Rathbone. Parker had no reason to think that the President was not safe. Like the article said, even if Booth had shown up Parker would have let him right into the box. Major Rathbone always felt responsible for the Presidents death and after years of personal agony he killed his wife and then himself.

This just gives more fuel to the conspiracy of that fateful night. It was supposed to be the whole cabinet being murdered that night and some of the White house officials were in on the assassination plots. Maybe Parker was in on it and went to the Star Saloon to let Booth know Lincoln is unguarded. No one will know until the government declassifies all of its files on things that happened in this country over 100 years ago.

In regards 2 Herbs comment police officers like that should be dissmissed without benefits or severence its rather unfourtunate that most time policemen/women, who should be held 2 a higer standard then common citezens as their jobs require an intimate knowlege of the law, r not and due 2 unions, nepotism, etc end up at a desk insted of in the gutter where a good portion belong.

Lincoln's presidency and assassination are an extremely interesting peice of history to study i have learned a lot about it and this something i never knew so it is always great to learn something new.

Being a history buff I already knew of John Parker and his role in the Lincoln assassination. As I heard it told, J.W. Booth saw him in the Star Saloon and sent him over a drink. Probably because he was wondering how he would get past Lincolns security until he saw security sitting at a table having a drink.

This was a very interesting story.
Thanks for sharing.

Ironic how such a horrible mistake with Lincoln and than McKinley eventually led to this President having bodyguards.

History shows how mistakes can be prevented in the future. We need to pay more attention to the past.

This shows that even in the 1800's there were Dirty Cops like there is in this Modern Age.

I am totally fascinated by Lincoln. Parker should have been hanged along with Mary Surratt. I wonder what would have happened if Lincoln lived. He's one of the greatest men to have ever lived.

Great article!!! Love the history of it.

I aleays like finding new history about Lincoln. This part is so very interesting, it adds another chapter to the things I did not know in Lincolns life.

It has the sound of a conspiracy to me,asigning him to guard the president.

Excellent story, I had never heard of this before. I enjoy history, and especially enjoyed reading about Lincoln. Tragic ending, but in retrospect, it seems things happen for a reason. That isn't to say that I think his death was wonderful by any stretch, just that hindsight makes things seem like they happen for a reason. He may not have gone down in history as the great President that he was. Who knows. Truly a great and humble man in my opinion. He seemed beyond the tarnishment of politics from what I have read on him.

Mr Abe Lincoln The Man Whom Changed the Worlds People,
Nations People Better Then slavery Humans had to leave slavery someone like Lincoln had to be the United States President This is it the Man. Thank-You Mr President 145 years later Historic United States President You will never be forgotten yesterday today tomorrow.All nations people should Thank This Honest Abe Lincoln Job Well Done Complete.

Where was "Bull" Sumner?

I can't believe he wasn't fired for failing as a security guard. He should have been arrested for incompetence.

Unfortunately, when there is a sociopath intent on completing his mission, he will find a way, even today with all the high tech protection available!

sounds funny to me.things sure havent changed much.

Nothings changed, the Secret Service let uninvited guests in right next to the President a few months after he took office. No one get fired then either.

Great piece on a great president. You talk stress, one can't imagine the stress both Linclon and Roosevelt must have continually felt during both the Civil War and WW2.

good article

I also like any articles on this particular subject. Read "Manhunt" if you like these stories as the author does an excellent job of bringing the story to life. However, the job that Parke did was unacceptable and he should have been tried and found guilty of going AWOL, whether for a drink or a better seat.

Unfortunately, he probably would not have stopped Booth. He was too famous and would have passed through most guards by desiring a minute with the President.

Not much difference in the action of that single officer and the cadre of officers guarding President Kennedy. They were ALL lax in their responsibilities if not downright criminal.

How fascinating that no one ever followed up on Parker, and that only those close to him and the presidential guard truly blamed him! This sounds like an excellent topic for future research if there is material available for it.

Lincoln's bodyguard was missing? No Kidding!

wow i love it

Oddly similar to the circumstances that saw JFK's security detail partying the night before at a mob owned nightclub and then inexplicably being ordered off the Presidential limo just as it turned onto Dealey Plaza. Just a coincidence of course. Nothing to see here. Move along.

Thanks to the writer, I enjoyed the article. Lincoln has always been of Great interest to me, but I never heard the details of the day he was assassinated. Very well written and very interesting! THANKS!

Wow! Great article! I enjoyed reading it!

Some folks still use the old phrase "your name will me Mudd." I'm really suprised that it's not the other way around. "Your name will be Parker."

that is sad the president must not be that safe if that can happpen

No man is exempt from assassination,in a world of conspiracy and bribes,where human life is nothing,in comparison to the love of money and power.If the Lord Himself used the conspiracy game to His own advantage,to eternally defeat the Enemy of our souls,how much more are we all subject to the daily endless maze,of the fatal plots against us,from selfish and manipulative people.Except the Sovereign above daily protect us,we are all sitting ducks to them.Compare the Lincoln assassination,to the JFK and MLK assassinations;before each one,bodyguard security was removed.Why?Conspiracy.Nevertheless,in the end.Good will triumph over evil-in this case conspiracy.

why are they worried about now?! He has been dead for 145yr. why do they make a big deal of it now?

This is a great article!! I love finding out new facts about lincoln, i actually just found some interesting facts about him in this play I just saw in Chicago called Abes In A Bad Way By Free Street Theater. It was awesome

This story shows us that even in 1865,there were policemen that should have been put on a "desk" job to help prevent a debacle before they really botched up their assignment!Where were his superiors while seeing that his police efforts were faulty?Oh,Mary Lincoln one more fact of "goofing up" for Historians to play with your mistakes!