The story was that of Mary Todd Lincoln and the fate that she seemed to endure. After losing 3 of 4 sons before maturity, and a husband to assassination, the womans despair and depression were probably inevitable. The story focuses on Mary Todd's belief that her bloodline was cursed. It was intriguing. Having been a polititical science major, I found this story very enjoyable. Now to ramble. As a footnote, the writer made a simple mistake due to name similarity. Junius Brutus Booth, the father of John Wilkes Booth, passed away in 1852, and was not invited by Robert Todd Lincoln to the White House. Edwin Booth, John Booth's brother, had indeed, ironically, saved Robert Lincolns life at a train depot. Robert invited He and his brother, Junius Brutus Booth, JR., to the White House. Interestingly, Junius Brutus Booth, the father was perhaps the greatest actor of the nineteenth century United States. John Booth, was a Confederate Sympathizer, had performed for President Linclon nearly a year and a half before he killed the man in the very same theater. During that performance he ominously glared at Lincoln in the course of his act as a villian. Also, another interesting fact, Robert Todd Lincoln had been invited by 3 Presidents to attend their assassinations. After Mckinley was killed, he made an announcement that he would never again accept the invitation of a President. President Lincoln had no living descendants after the death of Robert Todd Beckwith in 1985 or 89 (can't recall). This story is very good in that it really inspires one to study our history. One also has to feel very sorry for poor Mary Lincoln.

I rate this episode ★★★★★ for EXCELLENT. Arnold Moss magnificently wrote one of the darkest, yet compelling CBSRMT episodes that I have ever heard! We all have read history books about the life of Abraham Lincoln, but how many of us knew the life of his wife who had inner demons before, during, and after the Civil War? The sound effects of the thunderstorms, classical dance music, dancers clapping, horses with the carriage, clock bell, more thunderstorms, train whistle, more classical music, more thunderstorms, the telegram, the fatal gunshot, and the crowd murmuring during the hearing brought this story to life again. The music brought in themes of darkness, agony, despair, hopeless, depression, mourning, and tragedy. The horrifying doom theme at the 39-minute mark was my favorite. E.G. Marshall was terrific as Host. In his Prologue, he mentions that some families have doomed lives and this story of the Lincolns is just one example. Not written from a writer’s imagination, but written in the pages of American history. In ACT-1, after mentioning disorders could pass onto one generation to the next, he brings us to 1839 where we meet our main character: 21 year old Mary Todd living in Lexington, Kentucky. Her mental & physical health continued to torture her, or as what E.G. Marshall called it, “the germs of calamity.” In ACT-2, he brings up to speed in the middle of 19th Century where Mary Todd’s haunted by an angel of disaster within her. Plus, he compares her to Lady Macbeth from the Shakespearean play that she went mad and couldn’t help herself. In ACT-3, he quotes Daniel Webster for saying, “There is nothing as powerful as truth and often nothing so strange.” Another way of saying it, “Truth is stranger than fiction.” A story like this is stranger than I expected. In the end, Mary Todd’s eldest son was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, close to JFK’s burial. In his Epilogue, not only does he mention the agonizing evidence in Mary Todd’s letters that destroyed her, he asks us if the eldest son of Mary Todd inherit the dark legacy while he was U.S. Secretary of State from 1881 to 1885? That’s a mystery we’ll have to solve on our own. But the best part of all was this cast. Marian Seldes (as Mary Todd Lincoln), John Beal (as Abraham Lincoln), Carol Teitel (as Elizabeth Edwards), and Lloyd Battista (as Robert Todd Lincoln & Allan Pinkerton). Marian Seldes is one of my favorite actresses on CBSRMT and this was one of her outstanding roles. Listen to her portrayal of Mary Todd Lincoln and you will be spellbound by her voice instantly, just like her portrayal of the vampire in Episode #0318-CARMILLA. Whether you’re a Civil War Buff or not, this is one episode you should listen to. Until next time…pleasant dreams.

High praise! I can't remember this one, but plan to listen to it tonight. Marian Seldes is one of my favorites.

I rate this episode ★★★★★ for EXCELLENT. Arnold Moss magnificently wrote one of the darkest, yet compelling CBSRMT episodes that I have ever heard! We all have read history books about the life of Abraham Lincoln, but how many of us knew the life of his wife who had inner demons before, during, and after the Civil War? The sound effects of the thunderstorms, classical dance music, dancers clapping, horses with the carriage, clock bell, more thunderstorms, train whistle, more classical music, more thunderstorms, the telegram, the fatal gunshot, and the crowd murmuring during the hearing brought this story to life again. The music brought in themes of darkness, agony, despair, hopeless, depression, mourning, and tragedy. The horrifying doom theme at the 39-minute mark was my favorite. E.G. Marshall was terrific as Host. In his Prologue, he mentions that some families have doomed lives and this story of the Lincolns is just one example. Not written from a writer’s imagination, but written in the pages of American history. In ACT-1, after mentioning disorders could pass onto one generation to the next, he brings us to 1839 where we meet our main character: 21 year old Mary Todd living in Lexington, Kentucky. Her mental & physical health continued to torture her, or as what E.G. Marshall called it, “the germs of calamity.” In ACT-2, he brings up to speed in the middle of 19th Century where Mary Todd’s haunted by an angel of disaster within her. Plus, he compares her to Lady Macbeth from the Shakespearean play that she went mad and couldn’t help herself. In ACT-3, he quotes Daniel Webster for saying, “There is nothing as powerful as truth and often nothing so strange.” Another way of saying it, “Truth is stranger than fiction.” A story like this is stranger than I expected. In the end, Mary Todd’s eldest son was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, close to JFK’s burial. In his Epilogue, not only does he mention the agonizing evidence in Mary Todd’s letters that destroyed her, he asks us if the eldest son of Mary Todd inherit the dark legacy while he was U.S. Secretary of State from 1881 to 1885? That’s a mystery we’ll have to solve on our own. But the best part of all was this cast. Marian Seldes (as Mary Todd Lincoln), John Beal (as Abraham Lincoln), Carol Teitel (as Elizabeth Edwards), and Lloyd Battista (as Robert Todd Lincoln & Allan Pinkerton). Marian Seldes is one of my favorite actresses on CBSRMT and this was one of her outstanding roles. Listen to her portrayal of Mary Todd Lincoln and you will be spellbound by her voice instantly, just like her portrayal of the vampire in Episode #0318-CARMILLA. Whether you’re a Civil War Buff or not, this is one episode you should listen to. Until next time…pleasant dreams.

Delicate and beautiful, Kentucky aristocrat Mary Todd thinks she caused her mother’s death but, nevertheless, a rangy young lawyer named Abraham Lincoln falls in love with her. One by one, she sees her husband and each son except the oldest, Robert, die. Robert’s decision to commit the grieving woman is condemned by the public, and Mary claims Robert will inherit the curse.

What a fantastic show !!! CBSRMT is incredibly great! The writing, the host, the actresses and actors, the sound effects...I love CBSRMT!