Killing Lincoln

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Killing Lincoln
Killing Lincoln (Bill O'Reilly Martin Dugard book) cover art.jpeg
Author Bill O'Reilly
Martin Dugard
Subject Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
PublisherHenry Holt and Co.
Publication date
September 27, 2011
Media typeHardcover
Pages336
ISBN 978-0-8050-9307-0
Followed by Killing Kennedy  

Killing Lincoln: The Shocking Assassination That Changed America Forever is a book by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard concerning the 1865 assassination of U.S. president Abraham Lincoln. The book was published on September 27, 2011, and is the first of the Killing series of popular history books by O'Reilly and Dugard.

Contents

O'Reilly indicated in a USA Today interview that his coauthor Martin Dugard has written several history books. [1] O'Reilly himself graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Marist College in 1971 as well as a master's degree in broadcast journalism from Boston University and master's degree in public administration from Harvard University.[ citation needed ]

Reception

As of 14 November 2011, Killing Lincoln was among Amazon's best sellers and at number two on the New York Times list of best-selling non-fiction. It also held the number one spot on the New York Times E-Book Nonfiction list for multiple weeks. [2] In late October 2011, the publisher, Henry Holt and Co., stated that Killing Lincoln had sold nearly a million copies. [3] On the November 14, 2011 edition of The O'Reilly Factor , O'Reilly told his television audience that "there are now more than 1 million copies of Killing Lincoln in print, and the book continues to sell briskly." [4] By December 2012, the New York Times reported the book had been on their best-seller list for more than 65 weeks. [5]

Criticism

During the book's initial release, Rae Emerson, the deputy superintendent of Ford's Theatre National Historic Site, conducted a review of the book's text and discovered a number of inaccuracies, which she described as "factual errors" and listed as numbering ten, each different and one additionally occurring multiple times. [3] [6] As a result of the review, the National Park Service, which manages Ford's Theatre, made the decision not to allow the edition of the book containing the errors to be sold at the Eastern National Bookstore located in the Museum at Ford's Theatre National Historic Site, although it is sold in a gift shop in the lobby that is operated independently by the Ford's Theatre Society. [7] Historian Edward Steers has also criticized the book in a review for various inaccuracies and for lending support to conspiracy theories.

In response to Emerson's review, O'Reilly said that the mistakes, which he numbered less than her findings at just "four minor misstatements" and "two typeset errors", had been corrected in subsequent printings. [8] O'Reilly called the controversy "a concerted effort by people who don’t like me to diminish the book," said that Killing Lincoln was "honest," and wished all students would read it. [4]

Errors in first edition

English-language, first-edition hardcover print copies containing errata material can be identified as such if they contain the following: [3] [9]

("Furl" means to wrap or roll around a pole, as to store a sail, flag, or umbrella; "furrow" means to create rows or wrinkles, as on the forehead.) [3]
(After their meeting on April 9, 1865 in which Lee surrendered at the Appomattox Court House in Virginia, Grant and Lee met again the next day to discuss paroles for Lee's Confederate troops, so that they would not be arrested or harassed.) [3]
(The fire occurred on December 30, 1862 and gutted the interior, leaving the outer walls intact. The authors later correctly state on page 159: When Ford's Athenaeum was destroyed by fire in 1862 ...). [3]
(The Oval Office was not built until 1909, 44 years after Lincoln's death.) [10]
(The formal name of the theatre at the time of the assassination was "Ford's Theatre". Before that, after the 1863 renovation, it was called "Ford's New Theatre".) [3]
(It was performed seven previous times: The eighth was the night of the assassination.) [3]
(His last name was Gifford.) [9] [11]
(According to Rae Emerson, deputy superintendent at Ford’s Theatre, this description in the book is inaccurate: There are passageways and stairways backstage, known to and routinely used by the cast, crew, and musicians. O'Reilly admits, however, on page 3 that Killing Lincoln is "written in the style of a thriller", so arguably his choice of words could be viewed in that dramatic spirit, as such backstage areas would technically be hidden from the audience and Mr. and Mrs. Lincoln, who were in attendance) [3]
(No evidence has ever been found to prove Booth carved a peephole. There is an after-the-fact 1962 letter from the son of Henry Clay Ford, brother of John T. Ford, the theatre's owner, insisting that his father had the hole bored so that the guard could check on the presidential party without having to open the door.) [3]
(It was 217 acres.) [9]
(Unlike the other accused co-conspirators, Mary Surratt was never held aboard the U.S.S. Montauk and she never wore a hood during her confinement at the Old Capitol Prison, nor in federal prison at the Washington Arsenal, where she was eventually hanged.) [9]

Additional errors of fact were listed in a review by historian Kate Larson of the University of Michigan. [12] While finding fault with the accuracy of the work at times, Larson notably adds, "well-written narrative offering a quick read for a general audience.... Writing for a general audience requires skills that are not taught or encouraged in graduate history programs across the country, which is unfortunate."

Television adaptation

O'Reilly told USA Today in a phone interview published in the September 29, 2011 issue that he talked with producers ("big hitters") about turning the book into a cable television special. [1]

Tony Scott was working on adapting the book for the National Geographic Channel when he committed suicide on August 19, 2012. [13] Production had already begun in Richmond, Virginia. In the film Virginia Repertory Theatre's November Theatre represented Fords Theatre. [14] [15] The film aired on National Geographic Channel on February 17, 2013 hosted and narrated by Tom Hanks. The docudrama was aired in memorial tribute to Tony Scott. The television film averaged 3.4 million viewers, scoring about 1 million viewers in the 25-54 demographic. [16] It was National Geographic's highest-rated television airing surpassing Inside 9/11 , which drew 3 million in August 2005. [16] The record was broken by Killing Kennedy , which drew in 3,354,000 viewers while Lincoln took 3,351,000. [17]

Related Research Articles

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<i>Killing Lincoln</i> (film) American television film

Killing Lincoln is an American television film inspired by the 2011 book of the same name by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard. This two-hour political docudrama contains events surrounding the presidency and assassination of Abraham Lincoln. It was originally broadcast on National Geographic Channel on February 17, 2013. Narrated and hosted by American actor Tom Hanks, the film stars Billy Campbell as President Lincoln and Jesse Johnson as John Wilkes Booth. It was written and executive produced by Erik Jendresen, directed by Adrian Moat (Gettysburg), produced by Chris Cowen, Mark Herzog, Ridley Scott, Tony Scott, Mary Lisio, David Zucker, and Terri Weinberg.

<i>Killing Kennedy</i> (film) American TV series or program

Killing Kennedy is a 2013 American television film based on the 2012 non-fiction book of the same title by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard, starring Rob Lowe, Will Rothhaar, Ginnifer Goodwin, and Michelle Trachtenberg. The movie dramatizes the presidency and assassination of John F. Kennedy, as well as the life of Lee Harvey Oswald in the years leading up to the assassination.

<i>Killing Jesus</i> 2013 book by Bill OReilly

Killing Jesus: A History is a 2013 book by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard about the life and crucifixion of Jesus, referred to in the book as Jesus of Nazareth. It is the follow-up to Killing Kennedy and Killing Lincoln. Killing Jesus was released September 24, 2013, through Henry Holt and Company.

<i>Killing Patton</i>

Killing Patton: The Strange Death of World War II's Most Audacious General is a book written by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard about the final year of World War II and the death of General George Patton, specifically whether it was an accident or an assassination. The book is the follow-up to Killing Kennedy, Killing Lincoln, and Killing Jesus and was published in September 2014 through Henry Holt and Company.

<i>Killing Jesus</i> (2015 film) American television film

Killing Jesus is an American television film inspired by the 2013 book of the same title by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard. This is National Geographic's third installment of television adaptations of O'Reilly's non-fiction books, which include Killing Lincoln and Killing Kennedy. The cast includes Haaz Sleiman, Kelsey Grammer, Stephen Moyer, Emmanuelle Chriqui, and John Rhys-Davies.

<i>Killing Reagan</i> 2015 popular history book

Killing Reagan: The Violent Assault That Changed a Presidency is a book written by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard about the attempted assassination of U.S. President Ronald Reagan in 1981. It is the fifth in the Killing series, following Killing Lincoln, Killing Kennedy, Killing Jesus, and Killing Patton. The book was released on September 22, 2015, and topped The New York Times Best Sellers List.

<i>Killing the Rising Sun</i>

Killing the Rising Sun: How America Vanquished World War II Japan is a book written by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard about the Pacific War and concludes with details of the Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August, 1945. It is the sixth book in the Killing series, following Killing Lincoln, Killing Kennedy, Killing Jesus, Killing Patton and Killing Reagan. The book was released on September 13, 2016.

References

  1. 1 2 "Bill O'Reilly Takes on Lincoln's Assassination". USA Today. September 28, 2011. Retrieved December 1, 2011.
  2. ↑ "New York Times E-Book Nonfiction list, October 23, 2011". The New York Times. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Ford's Theatre flunks O'Reilly's Lincoln book". 12 November 2011. Retrieved March 22, 2017.Salon.com, published November 11, 2011.
  4. 1 2 "Bill O'Reilly: 'Enemies' trying to hurt my book". Politico . Retrieved December 14, 2011. Politico.com interview with O'Reilly published online November 14, 2011
  5. ↑ Kaufman, Leslie (December 23, 2012). "Bill O'Reilly has Top 2 Spots on Hardcover Best-Seller List". New York Times. Retrieved 1 Jan 2014.
  6. ↑ Emerson, Rae (November 2011). "Review of "Killing Lincoln," Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard". Washington Post.
  7. ↑ Levingston, Steven. "Bill O'Reilly's 'Killing Lincoln' not for sale at Ford's Theatre museum bookstore". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 12, 2011.
  8. ↑ Levingston, Steven (November 15, 2011). "O'Reilly defends 'Killing Lincoln,' says 'minor misstatements' have been corrected". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 29, 2011.Washington Post.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Second expert trashes O'Reilly's Lincoln book". 12 November 2011. Salon.com, published November 12, 2011.
  10. ↑ name=SalonNov11-11/>
    • Page 146: By nine A.M., President Lincoln is sitting at his desk in the Oval Office.[ citation needed ]
    • Page 154: Now, between Oval Office appointments, Lincoln summons a messenger.[ citation needed ]
    • Page 160: The state box, where the Lincolns and Grants will sit this evening, is almost on the stage itself – so close that if Lincoln were to impulsively rise from his rocking chair and leap into the actors' midst, the distance traveled would be a mere nine feet.
    (Depending on which end of the box the measurement is taken from, the distance from the state box to the stage below is 11+1⁄2 to 12 feet.)
    • Page 160: On nights when the Lincolns are in attendance, the partition is removed. Red, white, and blue bunting is draped over the railing and a portrait of George Washington faces out at the audience, designating that the president of the United States is in the house.
    (Ford added the portrait of George Washington for the first time on April 14, 1865, the day of the assassination.)<ref name=FordsFAQ>
    "Frequently Asked Questions - Ford's Theatre". U.S. National Park Service . Retrieved December 15, 2011. Official Ford's Theatre Historic Site FAQs page.
  11. ↑ Kauffman, Michael J. (2004). American Brutus: John Wilkes Booth and the Lincoln Conspiracies. New York: Random House. ISBN   978-0375507854. Page 154: "The chief carpenter at Ford's theatre was James J. Gifford."
  12. ↑ Clifford Larson, Kate (2014). "Review". Journal of the Abraham Lincoln Association. 35 (2).
  13. ↑ "Tony Scott's last film projects". The Daily Telegraph. London. August 20, 2012. Retrieved August 20, 2012.
  14. ↑ "On the Set of 'Killing Lincoln'". National Geographic Channel. Retrieved 1 Jan 2014.
  15. ↑ "IMDb > Killing Lincoln (2013) (TV) > Filming locations". www.imdb.com. Retrieved 1 Jan 2014.
  16. 1 2 "Bill O'Reilly's 'Killing Lincoln' Sets NatGeo Ratings Record". Inquistir, Ld. The Inquistir. February 21, 2013. Retrieved February 24, 2013.
  17. ↑ O'Connell, Michael (November 11, 2013). "TV Ratings: 'Killing Kennedy' Edges Past 'Killing Lincoln' Record With 3.4 Million Viewers". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved October 16, 2014.
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