The book Killing Lincoln by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard details the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln in four sections: Total War, The Ides of Death, The Long Good Friday, and The Chase. It describes Lincoln's stress as the Civil War neared its end and the threats to his life increased. On April 14, 1865, John Wilkes Booth assassinated Lincoln at Ford's Theater. Booth then evaded capture for 10 days while authorities pursued him, before he was finally shot dead in a barn. The book provides historical context around the relationships between the Booth and Lincoln families and examines how Lincoln's lax security may have enabled the assassination.

1. Killing Lincoln
by Bill O’Reilly & Martin Dugard

2. • Split into 4 different
sections
– Total War
– The Ides of Death
– The Long Good Friday
– The Chase

3. Total War( April 1, 1865)
Start out with Lincoln
watching the siege of
Petersburg Virginia.
Lincoln is tormented by
nightmares and threats to
his life. Ending the war is
very important to Lincoln.
Meanwhile John Wilkes
Booth is still hoping the
Robert E. Lee can still
hold out and win the war

4. Booth & the Lincoln’s
• This book along with
being about the
assassination of Lincoln
shows that the Booth’s
and Lincoln’s were
connected prior to the
assassination
– Lucy Lambert Hale and
Robert Lincoln
– Edwin Booth

5. The Assassination(April 14, 1865)
• For being the most beloved
man in the country he is also
the most hated
• Lincoln receives over 100
death letters a day yet he only
has one body guard with him
at all times
• The body guard on duty the
night of the assassination was
John Parker
• He has a history of being a
drunk and irresponsible (he
leaves Lincoln the night of the
assassination to drink at a bar)

6. The Chase
• John Wilkes Booth
escapes Ford’s Theater
• He has a broken Fibula
but his able to escape
capture with a fellow
conspirator, David Harold
for 10 days.
• Booth is finally shot down
in a barn
• 6 people will be hanged
for plotting to assassinate
Lincoln and other officals

7. What I have Learned…
• The Lincoln
assassination was a lot
bigger and more
complicated than just
murdering Lincoln. As
much as it was Booth’s
plan, it could have been
prevented….

8. My Recommendation
• Very good read
• Takes a new perspective
on Booth
• Shows the how stress
Lincoln was before the
assassination