Life or death by inches: President Lincoln’s assassination remembered
Former President Donald Trump escaped certain death by centimeters. Every day, a few inches or even centimeters can mean life or death while driving, in surgery, in combat, or being a pedestrian, among other situations.
In the sports world, several inches can mean victory or defeat. Missing a three-foot putt can cost a golf championship and millions of dollars. Several inches can mean a first down or a touchdown. A basketball missing the hoop by several inches can decide a last-second win or loss.
Trump missed death by inches from rifle fire on July 13, 2024. Miraculous he lives on for whatever his political destiny is, but thank God his life didn’t end on a campaign stage in Butler, Pa. Struck in his right ear by either shattered glass from the teleprompter or a bullet fired by a U.S. citizen — 20 year old Thomas Mathew Crooks, a native of Bethel Park, Pa. who was killed by a United States Secret Service sniper.
The 16th President of The United States, Abraham Lincoln, didn’t fare as well as assassin John Wilkes Booth entered the president’s box where Lincoln was seated, watching Our American Cousin at Ford’s Theatre on April 14, 1865.
The New York Herald report of the incident said:
“This evening at about 9:00 p.m. at Ford’s Theatre, the President, while sitting in his private box with Mrs. Lincoln, Mrs. Harris and Major Rathburn, was shot by an assassin, who suddenly entered the box and approached behind the President.
“The assassin then leaped upon the stage, brandishing a large dagger or knife, and made his escape in the rear of the theatre.
“The pistol ball entered the back of the President’s head and penetrated nearly through the head. The wound is mortal.
“The President has been insensible ever since it was inflicted and is now dying.”
Later a statement from Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War, said, “Abraham Lincoln died this morning at twenty-two minutes past 7 o’clock.”
Booth was later shot in the head after he was discovered hiding in a barn at Garrett’s farm on April 26, 1865. Sgt. Boston Corbett shot him, and he died on the front porch of the farm.
Lincoln had already freed the enslaved people with the Emancipation Proclamation, one of his finest achievements. Booth intended Lincoln’s assassination to revive the Confederate cause by eliminating the three most important officials of the federal Union government. Other conspirators, Lewis Powell and David Herold, were assigned to kill Secretary of State William H. Seward, and George Atzerodt was given the task of killing Vice-President Andrew Johnson.
Beyond Lincoln’s death, the plot failed; Seward was only wounded, and Johnson’s would-be attacker became drunk instead of killing the vice-president. Booth was captured and died at the end of a massive 12-day chase. Powell, Herod, Atzerodt and Mary Surratt were later hanged for their roles in the conspiracy.
Lincoln’s untimely death had a significant impact on the future reconstruction of the South. His death was a lapse of presidential security as were the shootings of Ronald Reagan in 1981, and two attempts in 17 days on Gerald Ford 1975.
History does repeat itself.