From the April 12, 2015, Chicago Tribune "Chicago Flashback: Killing stunned a nation" by Ron Grossman.
President Abraham Lincoln was in a lighthearted mood according to his wife on that fateful night they went to Ford's Theater to see a play on that Good Friday. After all, Richmond had fallen and Lee had surrendered. The long and bloody war was nearing an end. there were still problems to face, but the worst surely seemed over. And, then there was tragic death of their 11-year-old-son Willie, three years earlier.
On April 11th, Lincoln had given a speech at the White House talking about reconstruction and a new constitution for Louisiana. This speech infuriated one who was there, John Wilkes Booth. He vowed, "That is the last speech he will make." Three days later, on April 14th, he did something about it.
While the Lincolns were on their afternoon carriage ride, Booth slipped into Ford's Theatre, where he knew they would be that night because the management had placed ads announcing the Lincolns would be attending that night.
--Old Secesh
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