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Lincoln's Assassination Speech Analysis

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Eight presidents have died in office of the United States of America. Four of those eight have been assassinated. President Abraham Lincoln was the first to be assassinated. Lincoln’s assassination threw the nation into depression and a hunt to find the assassin. Lincoln’s last speech was his inaugural address to his second term in office, March 4, 1865.Many people were there that rainy day to see him take the oath. One of the many was John Wilkes Booth, a confederate sympathizer with wit and charm that could make any woman swoon. His good looks made him a famous actor. His fiancee, Lucy Hale, is next to him. Her father, U.S. Senator John Parker Hale, does not know of their engagement, for he would not approve of the actor. Booth …show more content…

Seward’s slave, William Bell, answers the door at Powell's knock, said that no one is to disturb Seward. But Powell is persistent in saying that he has medicine for him that he must deliver personally. Bell gives in and leads him up the stairs. Upon hearing heavy footsteps, Sewards eldest son, Augustus, comes out into the hall and stops Powell. Powell argues that he must deliver it. Augustus has none of it and reaches for the medicine. But Powell pulls away, and beats Augustus senseless with his gun, breaking it in the process. Bell runs into the street screaming murder. Herold sees this and rides away, leaving Powell's horse. In the house, Powell is fighting his way into Seward's bedroom. Private Robertson, an assigned military nurse, tries to stop him but is no match for Powell. They fight, but Powell subdues him with his knife. Seward’s daughter, Francis, stands between him and the attacker, pleading him to stop. He punches her in the face, and she slumps to the floor. Powell stands over Seward now stabbing, at him. A jaw splint worn by Seward helped to save his life by deflecting the knife away from his jugular vein. Powell, now in a hurry, leaves him out cold. Frederick, the second oldest, and Robertson try to block his escape but ends up unconscious. Powell makes a mad dash outside but only finds a horse. He mounts his ride and gallops into the

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