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The Last Lincolns: The Rise & Fall of a Great American Family
Most books about Abraham Lincoln end on April 14, 1865, the day he was assassinated at Ford’s Theatre. But that historic event takes place near the beginning of The Last Lincolns, a singular title in the vast output of Lincolnia and one of the most unusual books ever written on the sixteenth president and his family. Going far beyond that fateful day into uncharted territory, it’s a gripping page turner written by a TV producer with proven storytelling skills.
This absorbing American tragedy tells the largely unknown story of the acrimony that consumed the Lincolns in the months and years that followed the president’s murder. This was not a family that came together in mourning and mutual sadness; instead, they fell out over the anguished mental condition of the widowed Mary. In 1875, Robert—the handsome but resentful eldest Lincoln child—engineered her arrest and forcible commitment to an insane asylum. In each succeeding generation, the Lincolns’ misfortunes multiplied, as a litany of alcohol abuse, squandered fortunes, burned family papers, and outright dissipation led to the downfall of this once-great family.
Charles Lachman traces the story right up to the last generation of Lincoln descendants: great-grandson Bob Lincoln Beckwith, his estranged wife, Annemarie, and her son, Timothy Lincoln Beckwith. Bob, who was according to all medical evidence sterile, believes the son who bears the Lincoln name was the product of an adulterous affair. Annemarie, however, wanted the boy to be a “Lincoln,” putting the child in line for a vast inheritance. There’s even evidence—uncovered by Lachman for the first time—that a scheme to obtain possession of the Lincoln fortune was orchestrated by Bob Beckwith’s chauffer, who may have been the notorious outlaw and skyjacker, D.B. Cooper.
Published in advance of Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday in February 2009, The Last Lincolns provides an unforgettable glimpse into the personal legacy left by the man who could unite a nation…but not his own family.
This absorbing American tragedy tells the largely unknown story of the acrimony that consumed the Lincolns in the months and years that followed the president’s murder. This was not a family that came together in mourning and mutual sadness; instead, they fell out over the anguished mental condition of the widowed Mary. In 1875, Robert—the handsome but resentful eldest Lincoln child—engineered her arrest and forcible commitment to an insane asylum. In each succeeding generation, the Lincolns’ misfortunes multiplied, as a litany of alcohol abuse, squandered fortunes, burned family papers, and outright dissipation led to the downfall of this once-great family.
Charles Lachman traces the story right up to the last generation of Lincoln descendants: great-grandson Bob Lincoln Beckwith, his estranged wife, Annemarie, and her son, Timothy Lincoln Beckwith. Bob, who was according to all medical evidence sterile, believes the son who bears the Lincoln name was the product of an adulterous affair. Annemarie, however, wanted the boy to be a “Lincoln,” putting the child in line for a vast inheritance. There’s even evidence—uncovered by Lachman for the first time—that a scheme to obtain possession of the Lincoln fortune was orchestrated by Bob Beckwith’s chauffer, who may have been the notorious outlaw and skyjacker, D.B. Cooper.
Published in advance of Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday in February 2009, The Last Lincolns provides an unforgettable glimpse into the personal legacy left by the man who could unite a nation…but not his own family.
An Unusual Family History Reveals That:
-Abraham and Mary Lincoln were very lenient with their younger sons—and rarely imposed discipline on them.
-At age 12, young Tad Lincoln—whose education during the family’s White House years was very lax—could still not read.
-Eldest son Robert Lincoln objected to the intense attention the media paid to the Lincoln family.
-After her husband’s assassination, Mary Lincoln pleaded for financial assistance from family friends and people in government.
-Mary’s erratic behavior led Robert to swear out a warrant for her arrest and institutionalization.
721 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 7, 2008
84 people are currently reading
891 people want to read
About the author
Charles Lachman
11 books36 followersCharles Lachman is Executive Producer of the television news magazine show, Inside Edition. Previously he was Managing Editor of the nightly news broadcasts at WNYW-TV in New York City and was a reporter for the New York Post.
Lachman is the author of In the Name of the Law, The Last Lincolns: The Rise and Fall of a Great American Family, A Secret Life: The Lies and Scandals of President Grover Cleveland and most recently Footsteps in the Snow.
Lachman is the author of In the Name of the Law, The Last Lincolns: The Rise and Fall of a Great American Family, A Secret Life: The Lies and Scandals of President Grover Cleveland and most recently Footsteps in the Snow.
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January 16, 2023
Back in 2009, I found myself traveling in Europe without any reading material. So I downloaded this then-recent book and read it on a BlackBerry. In hindsight, that made for a pretty horrendous reading experience. Nevertheless, I have fond memories of the book, my surroundings while reading it, and my misguided belief that I was on the cutting edge of technology - imagine being able to read an entire book on my supercool, high-tech BlackBerry!
These days, I no longer have the BlackBerry, I no longer like reading books off a screen, and somewhere along the way I picked up a hard copy of this book so I could give it a “proper” read someday.
That day has come. And I wondered how the book would hold up - I first read and enjoyed it while knowing little about the Lincoln family, but I’ve since read loads about the Lincolns. I could tell, in fact, that I might officially know too much Lincoln minutiae, when some of my first reactions upon reading early chapters of this book were “wait, Nurse Pomroy didn’t go to the White House until AFTER Willie died,” and “Laura Keene wasn’t even AT Peterson House!”
So I was bracing myself for a sloppy, error-filled mess, spoiling my memory of having enjoyed it the first time when I was too ignorant to know otherwise.
But this isn’t a work of serious scholarship. It’s a light, entertaining work of storytelling. So as much as I’d like to nitpick, the erroneous details don’t really prevent the book from succeeding at what it sets out to be - a well-written, entertaining, non-scholarly, enjoyable, sometimes gossipy piece of popular history about a prominent American family.
While some early chapters featuring Abraham Lincoln don’t always stand up to scrutiny, the bulk of the book deals with the post-assassination lives of Mary Lincoln and her son Robert. Much of this section is based on secondary sources, and some suspect ones at that - the first sentence of Lachman’s acknowledgements cite "two wonderful biographies of Mary Todd Lincoln (that) were essential research tools" - the overly-sympathetic and factually-suspect biographies by Ruth Painter Randall and Jean Baker. So Lachman’s characterizations of Mary and Robert hew closely to those of Mary’s biographers - Mary is unfairly maligned and misunderstood, and Robert is aloof and avaricious, particularly when it comes to the issue of Mary’s institutionalization, which is better and more even-handedly covered in other books like Jason Emerson's The Madness of Mary Lincoln.
Lachman is particularly unfair to Robert in that he treats his business success as marking the beginning of the “fall of a great American family” as referenced in the book’s subtitle. At one point, while discussing Robert's place in high society and at the head of a local country club, he observes that "Abraham Lincoln had ended slavery, saved the Union, and debated grand principles of nationhood. Now, the most contentious issue his son Robert faced was whether golf should be played on Sundays."
And yet, the book is still so absorbing that I’m inclined to let these things slide. Lachman sprinkles in plenty of engrossing, well-written side stories about events that tie in to the larger Lincoln family story, like the Chicago Fire of 1871, the Pullman Strike and the William McKinley assassination, though a few times he’ll start an intriguing story and then drop it - he tells a compelling tale about the night the Lincoln papers were finally opened to the public in 1949. The family claimed there was “nothing of historical importance" in them - but it turned out they were "mistaken." Mistaken how? What secrets did the papers contain? Lachman doesn't say, and just moves on to the next story.
But the next story, and the next, and the next, are still fascinatingly readable. The fate of Abraham Lincoln’s grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, are far lesser-known. Lachman describes how Robert’s financial success turned succeeding generations into idle rich ne’er-do-wells, with little interest in their illustrious ancestor. The last chapter takes an unnecessary detour into speculation that a con man associated with the last living Lincoln heir was actually D.B. Cooper - which, even if true, has very little to do with the Lincoln story. The actual story ends in an epilogue, with the death of Abraham Lincoln’s last direct descendant, a court case involving the paternity of a potential next-generation descendant, and the ultimate dispersal of the Lincoln family fortune, as the Lincoln family itself finally died out.
The story is something of a tragedy, really - presidents like Eisenhower, Truman, McKinley, even John Tyler have prominent progeny who are proud to be associated with their famous ancestor. So the Lincoln family’s descent into indolence and ignorance was sad to see. But it makes for a great story, and if that's what you're looking for, Lachman tells it very well - even if you have to read it on a BlackBerry.
These days, I no longer have the BlackBerry, I no longer like reading books off a screen, and somewhere along the way I picked up a hard copy of this book so I could give it a “proper” read someday.
That day has come. And I wondered how the book would hold up - I first read and enjoyed it while knowing little about the Lincoln family, but I’ve since read loads about the Lincolns. I could tell, in fact, that I might officially know too much Lincoln minutiae, when some of my first reactions upon reading early chapters of this book were “wait, Nurse Pomroy didn’t go to the White House until AFTER Willie died,” and “Laura Keene wasn’t even AT Peterson House!”
So I was bracing myself for a sloppy, error-filled mess, spoiling my memory of having enjoyed it the first time when I was too ignorant to know otherwise.
But this isn’t a work of serious scholarship. It’s a light, entertaining work of storytelling. So as much as I’d like to nitpick, the erroneous details don’t really prevent the book from succeeding at what it sets out to be - a well-written, entertaining, non-scholarly, enjoyable, sometimes gossipy piece of popular history about a prominent American family.
While some early chapters featuring Abraham Lincoln don’t always stand up to scrutiny, the bulk of the book deals with the post-assassination lives of Mary Lincoln and her son Robert. Much of this section is based on secondary sources, and some suspect ones at that - the first sentence of Lachman’s acknowledgements cite "two wonderful biographies of Mary Todd Lincoln (that) were essential research tools" - the overly-sympathetic and factually-suspect biographies by Ruth Painter Randall and Jean Baker. So Lachman’s characterizations of Mary and Robert hew closely to those of Mary’s biographers - Mary is unfairly maligned and misunderstood, and Robert is aloof and avaricious, particularly when it comes to the issue of Mary’s institutionalization, which is better and more even-handedly covered in other books like Jason Emerson's The Madness of Mary Lincoln.
Lachman is particularly unfair to Robert in that he treats his business success as marking the beginning of the “fall of a great American family” as referenced in the book’s subtitle. At one point, while discussing Robert's place in high society and at the head of a local country club, he observes that "Abraham Lincoln had ended slavery, saved the Union, and debated grand principles of nationhood. Now, the most contentious issue his son Robert faced was whether golf should be played on Sundays."
And yet, the book is still so absorbing that I’m inclined to let these things slide. Lachman sprinkles in plenty of engrossing, well-written side stories about events that tie in to the larger Lincoln family story, like the Chicago Fire of 1871, the Pullman Strike and the William McKinley assassination, though a few times he’ll start an intriguing story and then drop it - he tells a compelling tale about the night the Lincoln papers were finally opened to the public in 1949. The family claimed there was “nothing of historical importance" in them - but it turned out they were "mistaken." Mistaken how? What secrets did the papers contain? Lachman doesn't say, and just moves on to the next story.
But the next story, and the next, and the next, are still fascinatingly readable. The fate of Abraham Lincoln’s grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, are far lesser-known. Lachman describes how Robert’s financial success turned succeeding generations into idle rich ne’er-do-wells, with little interest in their illustrious ancestor. The last chapter takes an unnecessary detour into speculation that a con man associated with the last living Lincoln heir was actually D.B. Cooper - which, even if true, has very little to do with the Lincoln story. The actual story ends in an epilogue, with the death of Abraham Lincoln’s last direct descendant, a court case involving the paternity of a potential next-generation descendant, and the ultimate dispersal of the Lincoln family fortune, as the Lincoln family itself finally died out.
The story is something of a tragedy, really - presidents like Eisenhower, Truman, McKinley, even John Tyler have prominent progeny who are proud to be associated with their famous ancestor. So the Lincoln family’s descent into indolence and ignorance was sad to see. But it makes for a great story, and if that's what you're looking for, Lachman tells it very well - even if you have to read it on a BlackBerry.
November 7, 2016
Charles Lachman has written an entertaining, titillating book. I will grant him that. However, throughout the "biography" Lachman chose to go the salacious route even with information that has been readily debunked. While this may be suitable for a tabloid show such as "Inside Edition", it is NOT suitable when it comes to history. The facts are fascinating in their own right, but when the truth is not juicy enough, apparently Lachman would rather run with the fiction.
Much of the information cited within this book is available in other published forms. Lachman's research seems to be comprised primarily of cutting and pasting from other books. His entire section regarding Mary Todd Lincoln's institutionalization is cleverly lifted from Jean Baker's "Mary Todd Lincoln: A Biography" with a dash of Jason Emerson's "The Madness of Mary Lincoln". The main problem with this approach is that Lachman, ever striving for juicy tabloid fodder, uses the slanted inaccurate perspective of Baker's biography when discussing the trial. Baker's "male chauvinistic society" perspective blinds her to the fact that Mary Lincoln was not well, nor should she be after losing three children at young ages and having her husband murdered before her eyes, she needed help and it was out of concern and love that Robert acted in the manner he did. How do we know this? Because of his letters. Because of letters to Robert from concerned family and friends begging Robert to do something. Because of letters from experts at the time in Mental Health who are warning Robert she could do harm to herself. These are the facts of the time. Not sociological perspectives slanted by personal bias. For a more fair and balanced perspective on this matter I would recommend reading Jason Emerson's "The Madness of Mary Lincoln" which does not take the bait of casting a villain in the matter. The truth is there was no villain. Robert AND Mary were each the victim of the events in their lives that led to her breakdown in 1875. I would also recommend Mark Neely and Gerald McMurtry's book "The Insanity File". This book was written from the letters and documents found hidden in Robert Lincoln's home 'Hildene'. Incidentally, the papers were found in the safe under the staircase on the FIRST floor of the home, not hidden within a cabinet beneath a non-existent third floor staircase. Any visitor to 'Hildene' would be able to enlighten Mr. Lachman to this fact.
The real trouble begins when Lachman delves into the historical "unknown". That being the children and grandchildren of Robert Lincoln. The problem is, some of us DO know about these people and were very surprised at the things written about them within his book. Jessie Lincoln ballooned to over 400 lbs? Really? Having personally seen photos and video of Jessie up to the point of her death, I can state with 100% confidence that Jessie Lincoln never approached two hundred pounds (I'd be surprised if she ever hit one fifty) let alone four hundred. So where did this inaccurate gem get culled from? Well, I can only guess, but I believe he heard debunked rumors of Mary Harlan Lincoln gaining weight in her later years. Why debunked? Well according to people who actually knew the Lincoln family, in her later years when she was too feeble to climb the stairs, she would be carried up. If she were over four hundred pounds, how many people would be carrying her up the stairs? Not the one person every personal recollection of this time cites. Rumors are not facts and while they may pass the test for the scrutiny of a program such as "Inside Edition", the field of history usually prefers the truth. This entire book is littered with too many examples to cite in which sensationalism is chosen over accuracy. The worst example of course being the strained D.B. Cooper connection which seems misplaced and forced to say the least. Just because something can not be disproven to satisfaction does not mean it is proven. The claim is beyond ludicrous and the evidence laughable and the very definition of underwhelming. It is in this strained section that Lachman's "Inside Edition" mentality is most visible.
To apply a cliche, Lachman's book adheres to flash over substance in every instance possible. Not one to let fact cloud his sensationalistic tendencies, Lachman has written an entertaining albeit woefully inaccurate book about the Last Lincolns. It is my hope that one day someone will truly research these last Lincolns, not simply cut and paste the research of others, and tell their genuine stories as opposed to tabloid driven fiction. Until then this book remains a fun read ideal for an extended visit to one's lavatory, but nothing more.
Much of the information cited within this book is available in other published forms. Lachman's research seems to be comprised primarily of cutting and pasting from other books. His entire section regarding Mary Todd Lincoln's institutionalization is cleverly lifted from Jean Baker's "Mary Todd Lincoln: A Biography" with a dash of Jason Emerson's "The Madness of Mary Lincoln". The main problem with this approach is that Lachman, ever striving for juicy tabloid fodder, uses the slanted inaccurate perspective of Baker's biography when discussing the trial. Baker's "male chauvinistic society" perspective blinds her to the fact that Mary Lincoln was not well, nor should she be after losing three children at young ages and having her husband murdered before her eyes, she needed help and it was out of concern and love that Robert acted in the manner he did. How do we know this? Because of his letters. Because of letters to Robert from concerned family and friends begging Robert to do something. Because of letters from experts at the time in Mental Health who are warning Robert she could do harm to herself. These are the facts of the time. Not sociological perspectives slanted by personal bias. For a more fair and balanced perspective on this matter I would recommend reading Jason Emerson's "The Madness of Mary Lincoln" which does not take the bait of casting a villain in the matter. The truth is there was no villain. Robert AND Mary were each the victim of the events in their lives that led to her breakdown in 1875. I would also recommend Mark Neely and Gerald McMurtry's book "The Insanity File". This book was written from the letters and documents found hidden in Robert Lincoln's home 'Hildene'. Incidentally, the papers were found in the safe under the staircase on the FIRST floor of the home, not hidden within a cabinet beneath a non-existent third floor staircase. Any visitor to 'Hildene' would be able to enlighten Mr. Lachman to this fact.
The real trouble begins when Lachman delves into the historical "unknown". That being the children and grandchildren of Robert Lincoln. The problem is, some of us DO know about these people and were very surprised at the things written about them within his book. Jessie Lincoln ballooned to over 400 lbs? Really? Having personally seen photos and video of Jessie up to the point of her death, I can state with 100% confidence that Jessie Lincoln never approached two hundred pounds (I'd be surprised if she ever hit one fifty) let alone four hundred. So where did this inaccurate gem get culled from? Well, I can only guess, but I believe he heard debunked rumors of Mary Harlan Lincoln gaining weight in her later years. Why debunked? Well according to people who actually knew the Lincoln family, in her later years when she was too feeble to climb the stairs, she would be carried up. If she were over four hundred pounds, how many people would be carrying her up the stairs? Not the one person every personal recollection of this time cites. Rumors are not facts and while they may pass the test for the scrutiny of a program such as "Inside Edition", the field of history usually prefers the truth. This entire book is littered with too many examples to cite in which sensationalism is chosen over accuracy. The worst example of course being the strained D.B. Cooper connection which seems misplaced and forced to say the least. Just because something can not be disproven to satisfaction does not mean it is proven. The claim is beyond ludicrous and the evidence laughable and the very definition of underwhelming. It is in this strained section that Lachman's "Inside Edition" mentality is most visible.
To apply a cliche, Lachman's book adheres to flash over substance in every instance possible. Not one to let fact cloud his sensationalistic tendencies, Lachman has written an entertaining albeit woefully inaccurate book about the Last Lincolns. It is my hope that one day someone will truly research these last Lincolns, not simply cut and paste the research of others, and tell their genuine stories as opposed to tabloid driven fiction. Until then this book remains a fun read ideal for an extended visit to one's lavatory, but nothing more.
May 2, 2010
An extremely informative book which relates the lives of the Lincoln dynasty from immediately after the President's assassination until the death of the "last Lincoln" in 1983. This was a family that experienced much tragedy, and controversy surrounded them, beginning immediately after President Lincoln's death. Almost two-thirds of the book concentrates on the disturbed and unhappy life of Mary Todd Lincoln, the President's widow, as she battled with her only surviving son, Robert, in a scandalous insanity trial.
Robert's only son, Abraham II, died at a young age and the Lincoln name disappeared, leaving the progeny of Robert's two daughters to carry on the dynasty.......unfortunately that was not to be as scandal and eccentric behavior sullied the family reputation. It was a sad end to the name of one of the most revered Americans in history. Recommended reading.
Robert's only son, Abraham II, died at a young age and the Lincoln name disappeared, leaving the progeny of Robert's two daughters to carry on the dynasty.......unfortunately that was not to be as scandal and eccentric behavior sullied the family reputation. It was a sad end to the name of one of the most revered Americans in history. Recommended reading.
May 31, 2023
A very entertaining read about Abraham Lincoln's descendants, although I'm not sure how accurate it is. I noticed several factual errors, and including the supposed D. B. Cooper connection was a little too much.
August 8, 2022
What a fascinating and ultimately sad story unfolds in this book. That the family of "The Great Emancipator" was to disappear in just 3 generations. How maligned Mary Todd Lincoln has been. Even if you look up Mary Todd Lincoln on Wikipedia now it states she was; "briefly institutionalized for psychiatric disease in 1875." It has become clear that she was locked away so that her son could control her money and have total control of his mother. Robert Lincoln himself later in life would suffer from mental illness and would be institutionalized in a sanitarium for a short time himself.
This book had been on TBR list for awhile, I am so glad I read it. It didn't read as dry history but the author writes as a storyteller, with suspense and drama.
This book had been on TBR list for awhile, I am so glad I read it. It didn't read as dry history but the author writes as a storyteller, with suspense and drama.
March 27, 2013
The author, Charles Lachman, sets the stage by describing the changing dynamics of the Lincoln nuclear family. He shows how each loss of a child was emotionally pivotal for the Lincolns. Each loss changed the experience of the family for Robert, the only child to produce heirs.
Even today, the Lincolns would be considered permissive parents. Many permissive parents provide moral education or guidance in socialization, but there is no evidence that the Lincolns did. It seems that trashing a law office, losing a speech, or interrupting a cabinet meeting went not only unpunished but unremarked. Allowed to be children well beyond childhood, Lincoln's sons seemed to have little appreciation for their father's role, let alone his achievements. Robert is tepid to positive on the man whose name he capitalized on but his children and grandchildren are neutral to negative. One descendant seems to be proud that he is not registered to vote in the country which his great-grandfather died for preserving.
Mary Todd Lincoln is shown to be preoccupied with status, shopping, and her own sorrow. She coldly ships her first born off to college while doting on his brothers at home. Last year I read the House of Abraham: Lincoln and the Todds, A Family Divided by War which shows Mary to be the best of the bunch in the Todd family, a blatantly self absorbed group. Despite their loyalty to the Confederacy, they pushed their brother-in-law (the Union's Commander in Chief) for favor after favor. This sense of entitlement, whether inherited or taught, clearly shows in Mary's behavior and in that of subsequent generations of Todd-Lincolns.
Robert Lincoln defies his father's well known adage, "There but for the grace of God go I" in his role with Pullman. Unlike Carnegie or Vanderbilt, his name is not attached to the enterprise, but he mirrors their principles. He has a "good" daughter who follows the conventions of her time and a rebellious daughter who marries 3 men against the wishes of her family. They produce the last of the Lincoln line, which has the selfishness and sense of entitlement of the Todds and with it a wealth that eluded previous generations. The last two Lincoln heirs exhibit mental health issues that exceed those of the former first lady, their great-grandmother.
While the author doesn't speculate, there is a lot for armchair psychologists to chew on.
Even today, the Lincolns would be considered permissive parents. Many permissive parents provide moral education or guidance in socialization, but there is no evidence that the Lincolns did. It seems that trashing a law office, losing a speech, or interrupting a cabinet meeting went not only unpunished but unremarked. Allowed to be children well beyond childhood, Lincoln's sons seemed to have little appreciation for their father's role, let alone his achievements. Robert is tepid to positive on the man whose name he capitalized on but his children and grandchildren are neutral to negative. One descendant seems to be proud that he is not registered to vote in the country which his great-grandfather died for preserving.
Mary Todd Lincoln is shown to be preoccupied with status, shopping, and her own sorrow. She coldly ships her first born off to college while doting on his brothers at home. Last year I read the House of Abraham: Lincoln and the Todds, A Family Divided by War which shows Mary to be the best of the bunch in the Todd family, a blatantly self absorbed group. Despite their loyalty to the Confederacy, they pushed their brother-in-law (the Union's Commander in Chief) for favor after favor. This sense of entitlement, whether inherited or taught, clearly shows in Mary's behavior and in that of subsequent generations of Todd-Lincolns.
Robert Lincoln defies his father's well known adage, "There but for the grace of God go I" in his role with Pullman. Unlike Carnegie or Vanderbilt, his name is not attached to the enterprise, but he mirrors their principles. He has a "good" daughter who follows the conventions of her time and a rebellious daughter who marries 3 men against the wishes of her family. They produce the last of the Lincoln line, which has the selfishness and sense of entitlement of the Todds and with it a wealth that eluded previous generations. The last two Lincoln heirs exhibit mental health issues that exceed those of the former first lady, their great-grandmother.
While the author doesn't speculate, there is a lot for armchair psychologists to chew on.
August 25, 2009
This story of Abraham Lincoln's descendants read like a novel, and I really enjoyed it until the last two chapters. At that point, the author went off on a tangent about a con-man who had tried to swindle one of the descendants. It was kind of a tawdry ending. Anyway, I would definitely recommend this book, which was full of fascinating stories.
June 15, 2023
I found this book quite interesting, and it held my attention from beginning to end. Early on, the death of Lincoln was a sobering event and one that changed the trajectory of our nation. But the sadness did not start nor end there. The Lincoln family in the White House saw much pain and sorrow with the death of Willie and Tad, and Mary Todd Lincoln essentially fell apart after the death of her husband. I truly did not know much about her tortured life after the assassination, and it was sad to read. Robert Todd Lincoln I knew virtually knew nothing about and his was a remarkable story which led him to be considered as a Presidential candidate, Secretary of War, and CEO of the Pullman Company. Even so, the friction between he and his mother and how that shaped the next generations that followed is a tragic narrative. I learned a great deal and was glad to read this.
March 23, 2025
Gifted to me by a dear colleague…
This book satiated my hunger for everything Lincoln, and then some. It provided great insight into the private lives of the Lincolns, particularly when it came to Mary Todd Lincoln’s life as a widow.
This book satiated my hunger for everything Lincoln, and then some. It provided great insight into the private lives of the Lincolns, particularly when it came to Mary Todd Lincoln’s life as a widow.
December 27, 2019
Lachman’s book on the Lincolns is not the first book I’d recommend to someone interested in Lincoln history; but if you are a fan of all things related to the 16th president, you may want to take a look at it.
Lincoln himself, understandably, factors in only the first chapters of the book. Mary Lincoln receives considerably more attention. The book provides expanded detail on the personality traits that made her an exasperating woman. If there was a means to make herself unpopular, Mary found it. But the book also describes her son Robert’s efforts to have her permanently ensconced in an asylum. How she eventually escaped that fate and the people who played a role in the tale – including one of the first female lawyers, Myra Bradwell – makes for an engrossing story that gives the reader more sympathy for her.
Robert Lincoln is the largest figure in the book and the shadow he casts over future generations is considerable. Vain and thin-skinned, he became a stuffy Gilded Age tycoon who was offended by the stories of his father’s early years - and took pains to dispute every mention of log cabins and rail-splitting. He served in a several political positions, including as Minister to Great Britain. The republican party considered running him as a presidential candidate but never did – which was a good thing for both Robert and the country.
Each generation of Lincolns after Robert becomes more absorbed (often more eccentric) and less distinguished, until the candle burns out in the 1960s.
The author is quite taken with a side-story about the fact that Lincoln’s last blood relative, Robert Beckwith, may have known and associated with skyjacker D. B. Cooper. Evidence seems thin and even those who have studied the Cooper case don’t see the connection.
I wondered if it was included in the book if only to add some color to a family saga that was wearing thin at its end.
Lincoln himself, understandably, factors in only the first chapters of the book. Mary Lincoln receives considerably more attention. The book provides expanded detail on the personality traits that made her an exasperating woman. If there was a means to make herself unpopular, Mary found it. But the book also describes her son Robert’s efforts to have her permanently ensconced in an asylum. How she eventually escaped that fate and the people who played a role in the tale – including one of the first female lawyers, Myra Bradwell – makes for an engrossing story that gives the reader more sympathy for her.
Robert Lincoln is the largest figure in the book and the shadow he casts over future generations is considerable. Vain and thin-skinned, he became a stuffy Gilded Age tycoon who was offended by the stories of his father’s early years - and took pains to dispute every mention of log cabins and rail-splitting. He served in a several political positions, including as Minister to Great Britain. The republican party considered running him as a presidential candidate but never did – which was a good thing for both Robert and the country.
Each generation of Lincolns after Robert becomes more absorbed (often more eccentric) and less distinguished, until the candle burns out in the 1960s.
The author is quite taken with a side-story about the fact that Lincoln’s last blood relative, Robert Beckwith, may have known and associated with skyjacker D. B. Cooper. Evidence seems thin and even those who have studied the Cooper case don’t see the connection.
I wondered if it was included in the book if only to add some color to a family saga that was wearing thin at its end.
March 4, 2019
A sweeping history of the descendants of Abraham Lincoln. This is a comprehensive account of what happened to the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of our sixteenth president and how and why his line did not continue. Starting at the time of the assassination and continuing until the death of the last great-grandchild this marvelous biography of the Lincoln family details the death of three of the four Lincoln sons, the eventual institutionalization of Mary Lincoln by her sole surviving son, Robert Lincoln, and then continues with Robert and Mary Harlan Lincoln's three children and the children of their two daughters. If there was ever a family haunted by tragedy and despair, this family was surely the one! Heartbreaking accounts of loss, illness, insanity and challenges beyond what most people could ever endure. A very fair account of Robert Lincoln's difficulties with his mother and her peculiarities. Charles Lachman does a wonderful job of drawing both frustration and sympathy from the reader on behalf of both Mary Lincoln and her son Robert. The trials Robert then endured from his own children, most especially his youngest daughter, Jessie, will touch a nerve with many parents. But the most surprising revelation in this book is how little the great-grandchildren of Abraham Lincoln really cared about their illustrious and much loved great-grandfather. It is surprising, troubling and discouraging to think they had much less respect for him than the rest of the world. An enlightening and well-researched book that is at times astonishing and eye-opening.
July 17, 2009
It has been a while since I've read a history book for pleasure. I came across this one while I was straightening books in the new biography section and was intrigued. What a sad family and really depressing to realize that there are no living direct descendents of Abraham Lincoln. Only one of his four children (Robert Todd) reached adulthood. Robert had only one son that died as a teen and two daughters. The daughters' children were spoiled, weird brats and never reproduced. It is a shame to realize that the greatness of Lincoln could not be passed on to this children or grandchildren. I was not aware of all the important things his son Robert Todd Lincoln accomplished - Secretary of War under Garfield/Arthur and minister to the Court of St James in England. Now this has turned me back on to biographies. Next up, the story of a newlywed in the Donner Party!
July 14, 2009
LOVED this. I couldn't put it down. I have always had a special place in my heart for Abraham Lincoln, due to my family's homeplace. Now I know how the rest of the stories turn out...heartbreak on every page. Mr. Lachman writes in a conversational style that makes this a quick read. His narrative is so charming you feel like you are let in on the Lincoln family secrets. Very well documented and researched.
Currently reading
May 10, 2011I am still reading this but thus far a very interesting look at the Lincoln family dynamic and family turmoil going on through the civil war and his presidency. We just do not learn about this in school and not even at the graduate college level. But to get a glimpse of behind the scenes and in the family during that period brings a whole new dimension and level of understanding of Lincoln. I hold steadfast that this was the greatest president we ever had.
October 30, 2020
Interesting facts, but with no insights or analysis. Learn to use transitions. And stop giving Robert Lincoln a pass for being such an a-hole to his mother and daughter.
October 23, 2023
This book is an interesting departure from the usual Lincoln biographies. In this, the entire Lincoln family is put under the microscope and examined. The book starts with the Lincoln family, Abraham and Mary Todd and their sons living in Illinois just before his election. It follows them to the White House and well beyond. The author discusses the death of Lincoln's sons and how it affected him and Mary both. I would have liked to have known more about Abraham's family prior to his marriage to Mary Todd. There was a little bit about a woman who Abe may have fallen in love with prior to meeting Mary, and the author provides clear and convincing evidence that she may have been Abe's first pick. But there was nothing about his parents, his grandparents, siblings: none of that, which would have been interesting to know about. The assassination is covered in some detail, but it's over in a few pages.
Once Abe has passed away, the focus of the story shifts to Mary Todd Lincoln and her two remaining sons, Tad and Robert. She was apparently quite fond of Tad, who I had not realized lived for so long (he passed away at the age of 18). She had a troubled relationship with Robert Lincoln, her oldest child. He married and had children, and his wife did not get along with Mary Todd Lincoln. Additionally, he thought his mother was mentally unwell and he worked to have her committed to an insane asylum. This matter has been greatly embroidered on by history teachers down through the years, who said that she lived out her life in an asylum, but really she didn't.
Robert Lincoln had three children, one of whom died as a teenager and two daughters. The two daughters then married and had between them, a total of three children, two boys and a girl. These children made it to adulthood and never had children of their own, so this is where the Lincoln family line ends. There is lots of drama and a bunch of rich people behaving badly. Most of these descendants seemed to be ill-informed of their great ancestor and acted like a bunch of spoiled brats. Still, it was an interesting book to read, for anyone wondering whether they are related to President Lincoln or not, you probably aren't.
Once Abe has passed away, the focus of the story shifts to Mary Todd Lincoln and her two remaining sons, Tad and Robert. She was apparently quite fond of Tad, who I had not realized lived for so long (he passed away at the age of 18). She had a troubled relationship with Robert Lincoln, her oldest child. He married and had children, and his wife did not get along with Mary Todd Lincoln. Additionally, he thought his mother was mentally unwell and he worked to have her committed to an insane asylum. This matter has been greatly embroidered on by history teachers down through the years, who said that she lived out her life in an asylum, but really she didn't.
Robert Lincoln had three children, one of whom died as a teenager and two daughters. The two daughters then married and had between them, a total of three children, two boys and a girl. These children made it to adulthood and never had children of their own, so this is where the Lincoln family line ends. There is lots of drama and a bunch of rich people behaving badly. Most of these descendants seemed to be ill-informed of their great ancestor and acted like a bunch of spoiled brats. Still, it was an interesting book to read, for anyone wondering whether they are related to President Lincoln or not, you probably aren't.
January 2, 2021
Only one of President Abraham Lincoln's four children survived to adulthood, that being Robert Todd Lincoln. Robert had three children and three grandchildren, the last of whom died in 1985. That's when the family line ended, as none of Robert's grandchildren had any children.
Not to trivialize the subject matter here, but a great deal of it could be lifted out of a contemporary soap opera. Scandal, mental instability, adultery, divorce, heartbreaking deaths of young people from causes modern medicine could have easily cured, fighting over inheritance, living dissolute lives, carelessly allowing beautiful estates to fall into ruin, and showing callous disregard for preserving priceless documents from the Lincoln presidency. It's probably for the best that Abraham Lincoln never met most of these people!
As the history unfolds, readers also learn a great deal about Chicago, where the Lincolns lived during the late 19th century. We learn details of the shockingly destructive Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the 1888 dedication of an imposing statue in Lincoln Park, and most surprising to me, the Pullman railroad car company labor strike of 1894. The first nationwide strike in U.S. history, it ultimately involved 150,000 workers. Three years after the strike, George Pullman died and Robert Todd Lincoln became president of the company.
Highly absorbing reading.
Not to trivialize the subject matter here, but a great deal of it could be lifted out of a contemporary soap opera. Scandal, mental instability, adultery, divorce, heartbreaking deaths of young people from causes modern medicine could have easily cured, fighting over inheritance, living dissolute lives, carelessly allowing beautiful estates to fall into ruin, and showing callous disregard for preserving priceless documents from the Lincoln presidency. It's probably for the best that Abraham Lincoln never met most of these people!
As the history unfolds, readers also learn a great deal about Chicago, where the Lincolns lived during the late 19th century. We learn details of the shockingly destructive Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the 1888 dedication of an imposing statue in Lincoln Park, and most surprising to me, the Pullman railroad car company labor strike of 1894. The first nationwide strike in U.S. history, it ultimately involved 150,000 workers. Three years after the strike, George Pullman died and Robert Todd Lincoln became president of the company.
Highly absorbing reading.
September 2, 2019
Robert Lincoln, lawyer, only surviving son, has to deal with the estate of the assassinated President Lincoln and the care of his mother Mary Todd. It is up to the reader to decide if the deaths of three sons, her husband, surviving the Chicago Fire, a witness to a hundred thousand people losing their homes, contributed to her mental instability. There is a trial to have her committed to an asylum and then her secret letter writing to get her freed hoping to live with her sister in Springfield, IL. Mary Todd's life in Chicago, over seas in Germany, Tad's dying of tuberculosis, compulsive shopping, Washington politics -- The Last Lincolns is a different look at what being a part of the family of the most written about President, a time when the future of the United States was in jeopardy and so many people who shaped the country- the cabinet members, generals. congressmen, business elite as the country grew and was pushing westward.
June 3, 2023
What happened to the family of Abraham Lincoln after his death? This boom looks at the family from his death in 1865 to the death of his last great-grandson in the 1980's. It is a heartbreaking story of selfish individuals who drag the family name through the mud.
A bit slow through the widowhood of Mary Todd Lincoln; Robert's wife doesn't come off in a very good light and the granddaughter, Jessie, caused her parents nothing but trouble for years but was more than willing to spend her parents money for her own gain. Glad I read it but the great-grandchildren were not people you would want in your gene pool!!
A bit slow through the widowhood of Mary Todd Lincoln; Robert's wife doesn't come off in a very good light and the granddaughter, Jessie, caused her parents nothing but trouble for years but was more than willing to spend her parents money for her own gain. Glad I read it but the great-grandchildren were not people you would want in your gene pool!!
June 12, 2023
The Last Lincolns
Extraordinary book! I devoured this book and learned so much that I did not know before and I have read quite a few books on the Lincolns. While reading the book I could not help but wonder how things would have turned out had the Lincolns not gone to Ford Theatre or what if Robert had gone to the theatre with his parents. Could history have changed? Would the grandchildren and great grandchildren have been more proactive in preserving the family name and belongings? Why were the great grandchild of our 16th president so indifferent to their heritage? So many questions with no answers no hope of obtaining answers.
Extraordinary book! I devoured this book and learned so much that I did not know before and I have read quite a few books on the Lincolns. While reading the book I could not help but wonder how things would have turned out had the Lincolns not gone to Ford Theatre or what if Robert had gone to the theatre with his parents. Could history have changed? Would the grandchildren and great grandchildren have been more proactive in preserving the family name and belongings? Why were the great grandchild of our 16th president so indifferent to their heritage? So many questions with no answers no hope of obtaining answers.
April 1, 2024
Although I am a civil war buff, I had only planned to skim the first chapter of this book. However, I was immediately drawn into the incredible story of the Lincoln’s heirs. Along with being a book packed with details throughout a course of time spanning more than a century. Lachman is a superb writer and wordsmith. Despite the family’s money and fame, the Lincoln family experienced more than its share of tragedies….which included untimely deaths, madness, and a loss of much of the compassion exuded by Abraham Lincoln. All in all, this is a fascinating and well-written book with many surprising twists and turns.
August 28, 2024
This is a sad story. It is apparent from this book that Abraham Lincoln and his boys who died young were about the last Lincolns who were worth knowing. The rest of the gang down to the last one were crazy, greedy, unfaithful, ungrateful, or just plain nasty. This book was informative and interesting. I learned many details about the Lincolns that I didn't know before, and much that I wish I still didn't know. This book is not an expose, but just the sad story of a family that seem to deteriorate physically, mentally, and morally with each generation until it mercifully ended. I would certainly recommend it the history buffs and Lincoln lovers, but it is a disappointing tale.
February 26, 2023
Fascinating story about the gradual downfall of the Lincoln family following the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. The flaws and tragedies of this widow and eldest son, and the diminishing returns of the ensuing two generations until the bloodline peters out towards the end of the 20th Century. The potential DB Cooper connection at the end is indeed curious, though not nearly as solid a lead as the author implies.
September 26, 2023
I have read quite a few books about the Lincolns. So the first part of this book was a bit repetitious for me. But I had never read about Abe's descendants and found that part of the book to be very interesting. What shocked me was how little the later generations seemed to care about Abe's legacy. They destroyed so many heirlooms and papers. I wonder what we would have learned about the Lincolns if that hadn't happened. Very interesting book.
April 6, 2025
This was a roller coaster ride but it did seem slanted towards unfortunate circumstances and scandal. I struggled with the author’s proclivity to jump topic from one paragraph to another. Perhaps a trait learned in Inside Edition.
That said, it was an interesting read. I knew nothing of the Lincoln family, other than Mary Todd Lincoln before reading this. I take some of this with a grain of salt because of the obvious bias towards the negative.
That said, it was an interesting read. I knew nothing of the Lincoln family, other than Mary Todd Lincoln before reading this. I take some of this with a grain of salt because of the obvious bias towards the negative.
September 26, 2019
The first 3/4 of the book is very good, where it talks about Mary Lincoln, the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, and their son Robert. After Robert the family line goes downhill and eventually sputters out. I thought it was quite well-written for a historical work. It just suffered from lack of good material to work with the last fourth of the book.
April 5, 2021
Lachman's comprehensive research shows and it's great. Fair treatment of Mary Lincoln, too, which can be hard to do.
But I must take a star for poor editing: Court of St. James, interning ashes, and other obvious mistakes. But don't let that prevent you from reading this dishy yet well-sourced decline and fall of a bloodline.
But I must take a star for poor editing: Court of St. James, interning ashes, and other obvious mistakes. But don't let that prevent you from reading this dishy yet well-sourced decline and fall of a bloodline.
October 25, 2021
What a wretched family he had. Most didn't even know or want to know about their Grand Father or Great Grand Father. One of them even burning his papers. Maybe it was best that this family just died out. Only the young ones whom died seemed to love their father and GrandFather.
This is a situation where Abe grew up poor and wanted his kids to have so much more then him. Big failure.
This is a situation where Abe grew up poor and wanted his kids to have so much more then him. Big failure.
May 9, 2018
This is an excellent read that answers the questions about what happened to the Lincoln family after the President had died. Very good and interesting.
May 30, 2019
This book was incredible. Edged at times (especially near the end) on bad clickbait. But what an insight into the descendants of Lincoln. Weird ass group of people tbh.
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