There are a few “witnesses” I’ve come across in the historical record that I feel comfortable outing as liars. Some of them may have believed their own stories–and most were simple attention-seekers, not acting out of malice. It is not surprising that so many people tried to insert themselves into the Lincoln legend, though it is a tiny bit surprising how easily some of them did so. But the media likes a good story. Nothing new about that. I intend this series to be a Hall of Shame without much shaming–where someone was particularly egregious, I will call them out. It was usually pretty boring deceit.
Cleaning Up the Record, Pt. 1
Cleaning Up the Record, Pt. 1
Cleaning Up the Record, Pt. 1
There are a few “witnesses” I’ve come across in the historical record that I feel comfortable outing as liars. Some of them may have believed their own stories–and most were simple attention-seekers, not acting out of malice. It is not surprising that so many people tried to insert themselves into the Lincoln legend, though it is a tiny bit surprising how easily some of them did so. But the media likes a good story. Nothing new about that. I intend this series to be a Hall of Shame without much shaming–where someone was particularly egregious, I will call them out. It was usually pretty boring deceit.