They Have Killed Papa Dead By Anthony S. Pitch

A Book Review by Joshua Cachapero
Telling Abe’s personality and his sense of humor really gives the opportunity for the reader to compare one’s self with Abe, or compare what he had to go through back then and think what would Abe be like today if he lived in the 21st century. When I dove into this book I was surprised how calm he was as a president. Again, being a president is not easy but Abe always seemed to be so calm about his job. His colleagues and security would call Lincoln “Cool, calm, and composed.” That is coming a lot from a man that has to speak in front of half the country that hates him. What is even bolder on Abe’s part is that he did not require a lot of security on his day-to-day activities. He went through the streets with no more then one or two friends. When he went to local musicals he would not even tell the owners that he would be coming in advance Abe would just show up to the play and simply watch, like a ordinary citizen. By Anthony describing how relaxed Abe was about being president really surprised me as a reader.
For Example, part of the book talks about his journey to Washington for his first inauguration but by going to Washington Lincoln had to go through Baltimore a place in which Lincoln was hated. Signs were written, “Lincoln will not make it out of Baltimore alive.” Which did not impact Lincoln at all. No, he did not panic or cause a fit, he talked to his security and they figured a plan, which involved sneaking Lincoln through Baltimore undetected. As night would fall, Lincoln would put on a coat and a hat to disguise him, as security would sneak him past Baltimore safe. Of course the security did not just have Lincoln to worry about. Lincoln has his family and close friends along with him, so sneaking a bunch of people though Baltimore was a task seemed to be impossible. With that Lincoln used his sense of humor to survive. When hiding out waiting for the right time to move, Abe would crack a joke or two to his colleagues, easing the mood for his security.
But through his relaxed state, his security was not, as you say, “good security” The book describes that Lincolns security only consisted of four men. Four men throughout the day, not only watch Abe but being his maid, waiter, and cooks. Four men? That is a lot on the job for just for men. So, the security made Lincoln’s safety a liability. But maybe that was Lincoln’s choice? Did Lincoln not want a lot of security? Was his “cool, calm, and composed” personality end up being his worse enemy? Maybe. Lincoln made him self-vulnerable by only bringing one friend on his outings. When he went to watch plays in the Ford Theatre he didn’t tell the owner of his coming. Bad move Lincoln, causes that low security might have cause his assassination. Getting shot in the head with a .44 caliber pistol in the back of the head by John Wilkes Booth, where was security?
In the book Anthony includes many facts of the assassinator John Wilkes Booth as a child and in his older years. In early years Booth seemed to be normal but something inside him was evil. He would talk with friends about wanting to be remembered for doing something bad. The frequent talks with his friends sound bad? He had his hand read by a gypsy in his early life and the gypsy described his had to be one of the worse hands she has ever seen. She also included that he would die young, have a long life of troubles, and things would seem to end badly. Having heard that probably cause some bad images in a young person’s head. And John came to conclusion that he probably will be evil. As a man, he hated Lincoln, due to the fact that when Lincoln banished slavery. Lincoln thought that every man should have be treated equal or have a equal enough chance but Booth thought of his slaves and blacks like dogs. Booth would show much aggression to his slaves and cause of the banishing of slavery Booth wanted to kidnap Lincoln to give more strength to the south, to again be remembered by doing something “bad”.
But Pitch also described Booth to be an ordinary man. Booth seemed to hide his evil thoughts and keep it to himself. Booth was an actor, had a lean build, taller then average, and apparently good looking to women. He also kept good pace with fashion, buying the newest styles and clothing. Another ordinary aspect is Booth apparently had game. Once capturing women’s attention he would charm them with his high social skills speaking with eloquence. On the outside he showed class and with his popularity growing his hate for Lincoln built on the inside. His plot to kidnap the president came along because he felt that South needed some power back, which was true because the North had more men to fight due to gaining southern troops and the South was very short-handed. Booth’s main purpose on kidnapping Lincoln was not to assassinate him but to trade Lincoln for southern troops. This plan though was not a success, due to the struggles on getting the plan together with a group he formed; he decided to assassinate the President instead. Which were a tragic decision and a very sad death of a loving President.
In conclusion, this book is superb as a story. I always think the best books to read are true events told in story form. This book is exactly what it is. The book delivers story wise and seems very accurate history wise. The book is not just for historians, the book is for people that like books, the book is a good read, die-hard Lincoln fans will love this book, the book delivers facts, humor, suspense, and just plain old fun. Also, it wouldn’t hurt your history class to learn more about Lincoln. Everything you need to know is in this book. Give it a chance, after all Pitch took 9 years to write this book. So, pick it up