Life Behind the Legend

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Lincoln is re-elected in 1864. Five days after Robert E. Lee's surrender, Lincoln goes to a play at Ford's Theatre

APRIL 14, 1865

The First American Presidential Assassination

"Our cause being almost lost, something decisive and great must be done," famous actor and Southern sympathizer John Wilkes Booth said. "I am sure that posterity will justify me." During Act III, Scene II of a farce called Our American Cousin, he struck

THE SCENE President and Mrs. Lincoln were seated in a box with Major Henry Rathbone and his fiance Clara Harris. General Ulysses S. Grant and his wife had been expected but begged off at the last minute

1 - Booth, well known in the theater, enters the presidential box and bars the door behind him

2 - About 10:15 p.m., he points a derringer at the back of Lincoln's head and fires once

3 - Rathbone tries to grab Booth, but Booth slashes him severely with a hunting knife

4 - Booth leaps to the stage, but his spur catches on a draped flag. He breaks his leg in the fall. Fleeing, Booth shouts "Sic semper tyrannis" (Thus always to tyrants), the state motto of Virginia. Some say he added, "The South is avenged"

DEATH OF A PRESIDENT Lincoln never regained consciousness and died in a house across from the theater at 7:22 the next morning

FAMILY LIFE

Marries Mary Todd .... Died 1882

Son Robert .... Died 1926

Son Eddie .... Died 1850

Son Willie .... Died 1862

Son Tad .... Died 1871

Sources: Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum; National Park Service; Speeches and Writings of Abraham Lincoln (Library of America); Memoirs of General W.T. Sherman (Library of America); Lincoln by David Herbert Donald (Simon & Schuster)