Lincoln on the Verge: Thirteen Days to Washington

Historian and MHS Trustee,Ted Widmer presents his new book, Lincoln on the Verge, an account of the Great Emancipator’s two-week journey to Washington as President-Elect and the deeply uncertain and perilous future he faced on his way to take the oath of office.

The government Lincoln was about to inherit was bankrupt and on the verge of collapse. To make matters worse, reliable intelligence confirmed a conspiracy to assassinate him as he passed through Baltimore. It is no exaggeration to say that the fate of the Republic hung in the balance as Southerners vowed to prevent Lincoln’s inauguration by any means necessary. Drawing on new research, including extensive work in the MHS archives, this account reveals Lincoln as a work in progress, showing him on the verge of greatness, foiling an assassination attempt, and forging an unbreakable bond with the American people.

Please note, this is an online event. Registrants will receive an email with links and instructions on how to join the program. Order the book here!