The Malliard Report

Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch

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Episode notes

“Leadership is not about taking charge; it is about taking care of those in your charge.”

With an ever-widening rift between people over just about anything these days, it is safe to say we don’t agree on much anymore. However, there seem to be a few things that everyone holds to be true in accord. The ending to Lost was one of the worst in television history, Carole Baskin one hundred percent did it, and George Washington and Abraham Lincoln were two of the greatest presidents to lead this nation.

This week on The Malliard Report we have the special treat of a double guest show that features Brad Meltzer and Josh Mensch. However, they are not here to discuss what made Lincoln or Washington great (which they still so a little bit anyway) but rather to bring to light a forgotten tidbit of history. We all know the unfortunate demise that Lincoln met through the assassination at Ford’s theatre but this was not the first attempt on his life.

“Everyone knows the story of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination in 1865, but few are aware of the original conspiracy to kill him four years earlier in 1861, literally on his way to Washington, DC, for his first inauguration. The conspirators were part of a pro-Southern secret society that didn’t want an anti-slavery President in the White House. They planned an elaborate scheme to assassinate the brand-new President in a Baltimore train station as Lincoln’s inauguration train passed through en route to the Capital. The plot was investigated by famed detective Allan Pinkerton, who infiltrated the group with undercover agents, including one of the first female private detectives in America. Had the assassination succeeded, there would have been no Lincoln Presidency, and the course of the Civil War and American history would have forever been altered.”

Brad and Josh are Malliard Report favorites and for good reason. Both have an energy and passion for what they do that is contagious, to say the least. Their depth of research is unparalleled, and writing style sucks you in instantly. Pick up their latest book The Lincoln Conspiracy through major online retailers or through their websites bradmeltzer.com or joshmensch.com. For all things, Malliard, head over to malliard.com where you can catch up on past shows, subscribe to the newsletter and score yourself some awesome merch. Connect with Jim on all social media platforms @malliard and don’t forget to rate and subscribe on your podcasting app.