Original subtitles

Narrator: ON THE EVE OF THE CIVIL WAR,

A SECRET CONSPIRACY TO KILL AMERICA'S MOST REVERED PRESIDENT

BEFORE HE EVER TAKES OFFICE.

LINCOLN WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PASS THROUGH BALTIMORE ALIVE.

Narrator: THE HIDDEN STORY OF HOW ONE AMERICAN LAWMAN

SINGLE-HANDEDLY SETS OUT TO SAVE HIM.

ALLAN PINKERTON IS CONVINCED THAT THE DANGER IS REAL.

THE PROBLEM THAT FACES HIM NOW IS TO THWART THIS PLOT.

MR. LINCOLN'S LIFE IS IN OUR HANDS.

HE ABSOLUTELY LAID A CORNERSTONE FOR THE SECRET SERVICE.

Narrator: IN A CITY TEEMING WITH ENEMIES,

WE REVEAL THE FASCINATING DETAILS BEHIND

PINKERTON'S MISSION TO PROTECT THE PRESIDENT.

AN ATTACK COULD COME AT ANY TIME.

SO PINKERTON WAS RACING THE CLOCK.

THIS PLOT WAS MINUTES FROM THROWING AN ENTIRE NATION

INTO TURMOIL. [ SIGHS ]

WHAT IS YOUR PLAN NOW, MR. PINKERTON?

[ GUNSHOT ]

**

Narrator: AS AMERICA RISES AS A NATION...

VIOLENCE REIGNS.

A FEW BRAVE SOULS FACED THE DANGER,

FIGHTING TO CREATE JUSTICE FROM CHAOS.

THESE ARE THE STORIES OF "AMERICAN LAWMEN."

-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

[ MEN SHOUTING ]

LINCOLN, HUH?

[ SHOUTING CONTINUES ]

THERE WAS A TIME IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY

WHEN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS HAD A DIVISIVE,

POLARIZING EFFECT ON THE POPULATION.

Papenfuse: BALTIMORE HAS A REPUTATION BY 1860

OF BEING A PLACE WHERE A RIOT COULD TAKE PLACE

AT PRACTICALLY ANY TIME.

I HEAR YOU'RE LOVING LINCOLN! HEY! GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME!

THIS WAS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS WHEN THERE WERE LOTS OF THINGS

COMING TO A BOIL ALL AT ONCE.

SO WHEN ABRAHAM LINCOLN IS ELECTED PRESIDENT,

IT THROWS EVERYTHING INTO TURMOIL.

A RAIL SPLITTER! A RAIL SPLITTER!

DAMN YOU!

BY THE TIME HE LEAVES HIS HOME IN SPRINGFIELD

TO TRAVEL BY TRAIN TO WASHINGTON D.C.

FOR HIS INAUGURATION,

SEVEN SOUTHERN STATES HAVE SECEDED FROM THE UNION.

AND THAT'S ONLY THE BEGINNING. THE DOMINOS ARE SET TO FALL.

[ TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS ]

HE THOUGHT THAT THIS TRAIN JOURNEY WOULD BE A CHANCE

FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES TO SEE HIM,

TO GET A LOOK AT HIM, TO HEAR HIS VOICE,

TO HEAR SOMETHING OF HIS VIEWS.

HE REALLY HOPED, AT THAT TIME, THAT IT WOULD BE POSSIBLE

TO PULL THE NATION BACK FROM THE BRINK OF CRISIS.

SAMUEL FELTON WAS THE PRESIDENT

OF THE PHILADELPHIA, WILMINGTON AND BALTIMORE RAILROAD.

AND HE HAD REASON TO BE CONCERNED

ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON.

A GREAT DEAL OF HIS LINE

TRAVELED BELOW THE MASON-DIXON LINE IN MARYLAND.

SO IF WAR CAME, FELTON'S RAILROAD WAS GOING TO BE

ENORMOUSLY IMPORTANT.

Papenfuse: FELTON'S CHIEF CONCERN WAS

THAT THE WORK OF THE RAILROAD

WOULD BE DISRUPTED BECAUSE IT WOULD CALLED UPON

TO CARRY TROOPS THAT WOULD BE FIGHTING THE SOUTH.

HE HEARD THESE HORRIBLE THINGS OF A PLOT AGAINST HIS RAILROAD

WITH THE SPECIFIC INTENTION OF DISRUPTING THE FORTHCOMING

PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION.

SO HE WROTE A LETTER TO A CELEBRATED DETECTIVE

RESIDING IN THE WEST.

AND THAT MAN WAS ALLAN PINKERTON.

[ WHISTLE BLOWS ] IT'S A RAID!

**

ALLAN PINKERTON IS A TOUGH NUT.

HE'S SCRAPPY. HE'S GRIZZLED. HE'S QUICK TO ANGER.

HE GOT INTO TROUBLE WITH THE LAW IN SCOTLAND.

HE COMES TO AMERICA.

HE WAS TRAINED AS A COOPER, A BARREL MAKER.

ALLAN PINKERTON HIMSELF DESCRIBES HIS MOVE

INTO LAW ENFORCEMENT AS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED

ALMOST BY ACCIDENT.

PINKERTON BECOMES PART OF A PLOT TO ROB A TRAIN.

INSTEAD OF FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH IT,

HE LEADS THEM INTO THE ARMS OF THE POLICE.

SOON AFTER THAT, HE BECOMES SOMETHING ENTIRELY NEW.

HE BECOMES A PRIVATE DETECTIVE AND MAKES HIS BONES

PROTECTING AMERICA'S RAILROADS.

ALLAN PINKERTON'S AGENCY WAS NOT THE POLICE.

HIS JOB WAS TO GET HIS CLIENT'S MONEY BACK.

THE INNOVATIONS THAT ALLAN PINKERTON BROUGHT

TO LAW ENFORCEMENT WERE DEVASTATINGLY EFFECTIVE.

DISGUISE, TRICKERY, FRAUD IN SOME CASES

TO HELP HIM TO ENTRAP

THE PEOPLE HE BELIEVED WERE GUILTY.

Stashower: HE'S AMERICA'S NUMBER ONE LAWMAN.

IF YOU ARE THE PRESIDENT OF A RAILROAD

AND YOU HEAR OF A THREAT AGAINST YOUR LINE,

HE WAS THE MAN YOU WERE GONNA CALL.

I'M AFRAID I MUST AGREE WITH YOUR ASSESSMENT, MR. FELTON.

IF IT IS THE WILL OF THE SECESSIONISTS,

YOUR RAILROAD WILL BE DESTROYED.

MR. PINKERTON, PLEASE. THE RAIL LINE IS MY LIFE'S WORK.

THERE WERE A NUMBER OF REASONS WHY THE SOUTH WOULD WANT

TO DISRUPT THIS RAILROAD.

IT WAS THOUGHT THAT IF FELTON'S RAILROAD WAS CUT OFF,

THEN THERE WOULD BE NO MEANS BY WHICH NORTHERN TROOPS

COULD BE BROUGHT SOUTH TO RESPOND TO THE SECESSION CRISIS.

DO YOUR SOURCES SUGGEST WHERE THEY ATTACK WILL OCCUR?

FELTON KNEW THAT HIS RAILROAD WOULD BE ESPECIALLY VULNERABLE

AT THE POINTS WHERE IT CROSSED OVER WATER.

SO A LOT OF PEOPLE FELT THAT IT WOULD BE SIMPLE ENOUGH

TO TAKE DOWN THE RAILROAD BY TAKING DOWN THESE BRIDGES.

INDICATIONS ARE THAT THE PLOT HAS COME OUT OF BALTIMORE.

SO THE CONSPIRACISTS CAN PLACE A BOMB

SOMEWHERE ALONG THIS LINE HERE.

THIS PREVENTS LINCOLN FROM BEING INAUGURATED.

FURTHERMORE, IT PREVENTS REINFORCEMENTS FROM REACHING

WASHINGTON, WHICH PLACES THE CAPITAL IN SOUTHERN HANDS.

I WAS A SPECIAL AGENT WITH THE SECRET SERVICE, SO I --

I PROTECTED THE SITTING PRESIDENTS, UH,

PRESIDENT CLINTON AND PRESIDENT G.W. BUSH.

SOME PEOPLE WORK BEST UNDER INTENSE PRESSURE.

AND I THINK THAT WAS THE CASE WITH PINKERTON.

I MUST GO TO BALTIMORE, SIR.

Stashower: WHEN PINKERTON AND HIS TEAM GOT TO BALTIMORE,

THEY ALL ASSUMED DIFFERENT IDENTITIES.

THIS WILL BE FINE.

PINKERTON SET HIMSELF UP AS A SOUTHERN STOCK BROKER.

AND IT WAS A GOOD COVER IDENTITY

BECAUSE HE WAS POSITIONING HIMSELF

AS A MAN WHO HAD REASON TO INTRODUCE HIMSELF

TO SOME OF THE CITY'S PROMINENT CITIZENS.

I WAS AN F.B.I. AGENT FOR 27 YEARS,

WAS INVOLVED IN THE UNDERCOVER PROGRAMS.

I INFILTRATED THE MAFIA IN NEW YORK CITY.

IN THE UNDERCOVER WORLD, YOU WANT TO IDENTIFY YOUR TARGETS,

UH, KNOW WHAT KIND OF ACTIVITIES THEY'RE INVOLVED IN

AND WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO INFILTRATE THEM.

HIS MAJOR OPERATIVE IS A FELLA BY THE NAME OF DAVIES,

HARRY DAVIES.

PUT THAT DOWN OVER THERE, MR. DAVIES.

HARRY DAVIES, IN FACT, HAD TRAINED TO BE A JESUIT PRIEST.

HE WAS A VERY BRIGHT MAN, SPOKE A LOT OF LANGUAGES,

AND HAD SPENT CONSIDERABLE TIME IN THE SOUTH

AND WAS FAMILIAR WITH THE LOCALE AND CUSTOMS

AND COULD FIT IN VERY EASILY,

MORE SO THAN A MAN LIKE PINKERTON.

PLACE THE BOX THERE, MISS WARNE.

Luchuk: ALLAN PINKERTON HIRED KATE WARNE

AS AMERICA'S FIRST FEMALE PRIVATE DETECTIVE.

THAT IS AN IMPORTANT MOMENT

IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

Stashower: HERE'S THIS WOMAN WHO'S 22 OR 23 YEARS OLD.

SHE'S A WIDOW, WANTS TO WORK AS A DETECTIVE,

TO DO DANGEROUS WORK BESIDE MALE DETECTIVES IN THE FIELD.

SHE WAS SO SUCCESSFUL THAT SOON PINKERTON HAD HER RUNNING

A FEMALE DETECTIVE BUREAU.

HE FELT THAT SHE WAS AMONG THE BEST OPERATIVES HE EVER HAD,

IF NOT THE BEST.

THE SECRET IDENTITIES I'VE GIVEN YOU SHOULD BE

SUFFICIENT TO GET YOU INTO REBEL CIRCLES.

BUT REMEMBER, THE INAUGURATION OF LINCOLN

IS ONLY SIX WEEKS AWAY.

SO YOU DO NOT HAVE THE TIME, MONTHS, YEARS

TO GAIN THE CONFIDENCE OF THE SECESSIONISTS.

YOU MUST WORK QUICKLY WITHOUT AROUSING SUSPICIONS.

YOU WILL HEAR A LOT OF BRAVADO AROUND TOWN,

BUT IT'S BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THAT A BARKING DOG NEVER BITES.

INSTEAD, YOU MUST GET THESE BARKING DOGS TO TAKE YOU

TO THEIR MASTERS.

AND YOU SHALL CAST AN UNCEASING SHADOW

ON BALTIMORE UNTIL WE DO.

BALTIMORE HAD A LONG TRADITION

OF SORT OF BUCKING FEDERAL AUTHORITY.

THERE WAS STILL A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SUPPORT FOR SLAVERY.

LINCOLN GOT VERY FEW VOTES IN MARYLAND

AND NEXT TO NONE IN BALTIMORE.

BARNUM WAS SORT OF AN INTERNATIONAL MEETING PLACE

KNOWN FOR ITS SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY.

Luchuk: ALLAN PINKERTON BELIEVED THAT CRIMINALS

HAD FAILED MORALLY

AND EVENTUALLY WOULD TELL SOMEONE WHAT THEY HAD DONE.

AND A DETECTIVE NEEDED TO BE CLEVER ENOUGH AND PATIENT ENOUGH

TO BE THERE WHEN THAT HAPPENED.

Franklin: YOU DO THAT BY FREQUENTING BARS AND SALOONS

WHERE THESE PEOPLE WOULD HANG OUT.

AND WE ALL KNOW THAT LIQUOR LOOSENS THE TONGUE A LITTLE BIT.

[ SPEAKING INAUDIBLY ]

Stashower: HARRY DAVIES SET UP

AS A PRO-SOUTHERN SYMPATHIZER

FROM NEW ORLEANS.

AND HE LET IT BE KNOWN THAT HE WAS WILLING

TO PLEDGE HIS LOYALTY AND HIS MONEY

TO THE CAUSE OF SOUTHERN RIGHTS.

I SWEAR, IT WASN'T TILL LAST WEEK THAT I LEARNED

THAT "DAMN" AND "YANKEE" ARE, IN FACT, TWO SEPARATE WORDS.

OTIS HILLARD WAS PART OF A WEALTHY FAMILY.

HE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A GUY WHO ENJOYED HANGING AROUND

IN SALOONS AND, IN MANY WAYS, SEEMS AN UNLIKELY CANDIDATE

TO BE PART OF ANY KIND OF SINISTER CABAL.

AND HE WAS A PERSON OF INTEREST TO PINKERTON AND HIS TEAM.

[ LAUGHING HEARTILY ]

HEY, BUB, LIGHTEN UP!

IF YOU DON'T WANT TO LAUGH, WHY DON'T YOU SING US A SONG?

BUT I DON'T SING.

COME ON. SING US "DIXIE."

COME ON.

Pistone: TO BE A GOOD UNDERCOVER AGENT,

YOU GOTTA HAVE A MENTAL TOUGHNESS.

YOU HAVE TO BE AT EASE IN WHATEVER SURROUNDINGS

THEY'RE IN.

WHAT? DON'T KNOW THE WORDS?

Pistone: DOESN'T SWEAT.

DOESN'T HAVE ANXIETY IN ANY SITUATION.

IF THEY THINK THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG, THEY'RE GONNA THINK

YOU'RE AN INFORMANT, AND THEY'LL KILL YOU QUICK.

MAYBE THAT'S ON ACCOUNT YOU'RE A SPY FROM THE NORTH!

DAMN NORTHERNERS.

Franklin: ONE OF THE BEST WAYS TO GET INFORMATION

IS BY GAINING THE TRUST OF THE PERSON

THAT YOU'RE TRYING TO INVESTIGATE.

Papenfuse: HILLARD WAS A CERTIFIED DRUNK

AND WANTED TO SPEND MOST OF HIS TIME WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND

AT THE, UH, HOUSE OF ILL REPUTE,

AND WHERE HE WAS FOREVER DRAGGING DAVIES.

JUST GOTTA RELIEVE SOME OF THAT TENSION IN MY NECK.

IF YOU CAN, AWAIT SO MANY SECRETS.

Stashower: ALL THE TIME, HILLARD SEEMS TO BE

DANGLING THIS IDEA

THAT HE HAS SOME KNOWLEDGE THAT HE JUST CAN'T SHARE.

OKAY.

BUT DAVIES KEEPS AT IT. NOW, WHERE YOU GOING?

I HAVE NO CARE FOR PEOPLE WHO WASTE ALL THEIR TIME

CAVORTIN' WITH PROSTITUTES

WHEN THEY SHOULD BE LABORING THEMSELVES

FOR THE GREAT SOUTHERN CAUSE. [ SIGHS ]

NOT THAT I CARED FOR CESAR LESS, IT'S THAT I CARED FOR ROME MORE.

WHAT DID YOU SAY?

IF I WASN'T WORKING FOR OUR CAUSE,

THEN HOW WOULD I KNOW ABOUT THE CODE OF WIRES?

WHAT WIRES DO YOU SPEAK OF?

SECRET CODES BEING SENT BY TELEGRAPH,

TRACKING LINCOLN'S TRAIN.

STOP, STOP.

TRACKING LINCOLN?

PINKERTON WAS THERE TO PROTECT THE RAILROADS.

BUT BY SLOW DEGREES, HE CATCHES SIGHT OF SOMETHING

LARGER AND DARKER.

AND HE REALIZES THAT THERE IS SOMETHING MUCH BIGGER HAPPENING

THAN JUST THE THREAT AGAINST THE RAILROAD.

WHOO!

***

IN THE LONG PERIOD BETWEEN HIS ELECTION

AND BEING SWORN IN AS PRESIDENT,

LINCOLN WAS RECEIVING A GREAT DEAL OF HATE MAIL,

JUST THREATS THAT WERE EXPRESSED WITH THIS ASTONISHING DEGREE

OF VITRIOL.

LINCOLN SEEMS NOT TO HAVE TAKEN ANY OF IT VERY SERIOUSLY.

AS THE TRAIN MOVED ACROSS THE COUNTRY,

HE MADE A POINT OF STOPPING AT STATE CAPITALS

AND OTHER PLACES WHERE HE SAID SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF

HE HOPED THAT, "WHEN THE PEOPLE HAD SEEN A BIT MORE OF ME,

WE WOULD LIKE EACH OTHER THE MORE."

Franklin: FOR LINCOLN, IT WAS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS

BECAUSE WASHINGTON D.C. WAS SURROUNDED AND INFILTRATED

BY THOSE SYMPATHETIC TO THE SOUTHERN CAUSE.

AND SO, AS HE GOT CLOSER TO WASHINGTON D.C.,

THE DANGER REALLY RATCHETED UP BECAUSE HE WAS GETTING CLOSER

TO THOSE PEOPLE THAT DID NOT WANT TO SEE HIM BECOME

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

TODAY, THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THIS.

WE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE DANGERS TO BE PERCEIVED

WHEN THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WALKS THROUGH A CROWD.

BUT AT THE START OF THE LINCOLN PRESIDENCY,

THESE APPREHENSIONS DID NOT YET EXIST.

THERE HAD NOT BEEN AN ASSASSINATION

OF A SITTING PRESIDENT.

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT IT COULDN'T HAPPEN HERE.

IT'S NOT BOURBON UNLESS IT COMES FROM KENTUCKY.

THE FINEST BOURBON I EVER HAD WAS IN NEW ORLEANS.

IF IT WAS THE FINEST BOURBON YOU EVER HAD,

THEN IT WAS POURED FROM A BARREL FROM KENTUCKY.

Stashower: PINKERTON SEEMS TO HAVE DEVELOPED

A GENUINE FRIENDSHIP WITH A MAN NAMED JAMES LUCKETT.

LUCKETT WAS ON RECORD AS BEING A SOUTHERN RIGHTS GUY.

AND PINKERTON IS LETTING ON THAT, YOU KNOW,

HE TOO WAS SYMPATHETIC TO THE SOUTHERN CAUSE.

THE RAIL SPLITTER WILL BE COMING THROUGH BALTIMORE SOON.

HE MAY ARRIVE, BUT I DOUBT IF HE'LL PASS THROUGH.

DO YOU CARE TO ELABORATE ON YOUR MEANING, SIR?

I WILL NOT.

MMM.

Stashower: A DRAMATIC GESTURE IS CALLED FOR.

HE COUNTS OUT $25.

IT'S AN ENORMOUS SUM OF MONEY.

THIS IS FOR THE CAUSE.

BUT BE CAUTIOUS IN SPEAKING AROUND OUTSIDERS.

THERE MAY BE NORTHERN AGENTS ABOUT.

THIS REALLY GREASES THE WHEELS AS FAR AS LUCKETT IS CONCERNED.

AND HE SAYS, "WELL, I WILL INTRODUCE YOU TO THE MAN

WHO IS THE LEADER OF THIS CAUSE."

HOW CAN YOU BE SO CERTAIN THAT LINCOLN

WILL NEVER REACH WASHINGTON?

BECAUSE LINCOLN IS TO BE ASSASSINATED.

HIS BLOOD WILL RUN IN THE STREETS OF BALTIMORE.

PINKERTON, REALIZING INITIALLY THAT THE THREAT

WAS THE RAILROAD AND THEN TRANSITIONING

TO REALIZING THAT THE THREAT WAS AGAINST THE MAN,

THE ENTIRE DYNAMIC OF THE INVESTIGATION CHANGES.

YOU CHANGE FROM PROTECTING AN ASSET TO PROTECTING A MAN

WHO IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BE A PRESIDENT

AND WHO IS GOING TO BE A PART OF HISTORY.

ALL THIS FUSS OVER THE PRESIDENT-ELECT.

NOW, WHY ANYONE WOULD VOTE FOR THAT MAN,

I SIMPLY CANNOT COMPREHEND.

KATE WARNE, THE FEMALE DETECTIVE, WAS A MRS. BARLEY.

AND SUPPOSEDLY, SHE WAS FROM MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA.

AND SHE WORE, PINNED TO HER DRESS, THIS CLUSTER OF RIBBONS

THAT PEOPLE WHO WERE SYMPATHETIC TO THE SECESSION MOVEMENT

WORE AT THAT TIME.

I JUST REALLY HOPE THAT THE LEGISLATURE

DOESN'T DRAG ITS FEET ON THIS MATTER.

Luchuk: ALLAN PINKERTON BELIEVED

THAT CRIMINALS HAD A DEEP DESIRE TO UNBURDEN THEMSELVES.

SO HIS WHOLE APPROACH TO LAW ENFORCEMENT

WAS FOUNDED ON THE NOTION OF SURVEILLANCE.

WE WILL WATCH THEM UNTIL THEY GIVE THEMSELVES UP.

ALLAN PINKERTON UNDERSTOOD

THAT THE PRESIDENT'S ITINERARY WAS PUTTING HIM AT RISK.

WHERE HE WOULD BE GOING, WHERE HE WOULD BE SPEAKING,

WHEN HE WOULD ARRIVE.

Stashower: IN ORDER TO GET TO WASHINGTON FOR HIS INAUGURATION,

LINCOLN HAD TO PASS THROUGH BALTIMORE.

THERE SIMPLY WASN'T ANY OTHER GOOD WAY

OF GETTING TO WASHINGTON.

Papenfuse: BALTIMORE WAS A PLACE THAT LINCOLN

SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE TO AT THAT POINT IN TIME,

SIMPLY BECAUSE IT WAS A DANGEROUS PLACE TO GO TO.

AND AT THIS POINT, LINCOLN JUST SIMPLY DIDN'T HAVE

THE SUFFICIENT FRIENDS IN TOWN TO ENSURE HIS SAFETY.

SOUTHERN PRIDE WILL NEVER STAND FOR LINCOLN.

[ INHALES ]

CIPRIANO FERRANDINI

IS A REALLY INTERESTING INDIVIDUAL.

HE IS BORN IN CORSICA IN 1822.

HE LANDS IN BALTIMORE, AND FOR THE NEXT 40 YEARS,

HE IS THE BARBER IN THE BARNUM'S HOTEL.

FERRANDINI WAS VERY MUCH AN ADVOCATE OF SECESSION

AND THE SOUTHERN CAUSE, A BELIEF IN STATES' RIGHTS,

BUT ALSO A BELIEF IN -- IN WHAT ALL OF THE SOUTHERN CULTURE

ACTUALLY STOOD FOR, INCLUDING SLAVERY.

[ SPEAKING INAUDIBLY ]

THAT'S FERRANDINI.

HE OVERSEES THE GROUP OF MEN WE SPOKE OF.

FERRANDINI APPEARS TO BE A MAN THAT WAS VERY CHARISMATIC

AND ABLE TO RALLY PEOPLE TO THE CAUSE

SIMPLY BY THE FORCE OF HIS PERSONALITY

AND THE ELOQUENCE OF HIS WORDS.

THIS IS J.H. HUTCHINSON.

MR. HUTCHINSON IS THE MAN WHO MADE THE DONATION.

OF COURSE.

VERY GOOD.

EVEN THOUGH FERRANDINI HAS ONLY JUST MET PINKERTON,

FERRANDINI SEEMS TO BELIEVE THAT HE COULD TRUST PINKERTON.

YOU SEE, NAPOLEON WAS THE ONLY BARRIER

TO TRUE ITALIAN INDEPENDENCE,

JUST AS LINCOLN IS THE ONLY BARRIER

TO SOUTHERN INDEPENDENCE.

BUT NOW THAT LINCOLN HAS BEEN ELECTED,

WHAT STEPS CAN BE TAKEN TO PREVENT HIM

FROM PROVING TO BE SUCH AN OBSTACLE?

MR. HUTCHINSON, ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW IS THAT OUR PLAN HAS BEEN

FULLY ARRANGED AND IT CANNOT FAIL.

WHAT'S IMPORTANT IS THAT THE MAN IS NEVER SWORN IN!

LINCOLN WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO PASS THROUGH BALTIMORE ALIVE.

LINCOLN MUST DIE.

AND DIE HE SHALL.

ACCORDING TO DAVIES' OWN ACCOUNT,

THEIR LIVES WERE IN DANGER.

ANYONE UNCOVERED AS BEING, UH, NORTHERN DETECTIVES

COULD BE HANGED AS A NORTHERN SPY.

[ GASPS ] SHH.

WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

WHERE ARE YOU WITH HILLARD?

HE SPEAKS OF A SECRET MEETING.

WE KNOW WHEN LINCOLN'S ASSASSIN WILL BE SELECTED,

BUT HE WON'T DIVULGE ANY MORE.

WHEN IS THIS MEETING?

I DON'T KNOW. IN THE NEXT NIGHT OR TWO.

DEMAND HILLARD TAKE YOU TO THIS MEETING.

I FEAR IF I ACT TOO BRAZENLY, MY COVER WILL BE BLOWN.

THE TIME FOR TIPTOEING IS OVER.

MR. LINCOLN'S LIFE IS IN OUR HANDS.

HILLARD HAS BEEN PLAYING THIS PUSH/PULL GAME WITH DAVIES.

HE'S BEEN SAYING, "I KNOW MORE THAN I CAN TELL YOU.

"I'D LOVE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE YOU INTO MY CONFIDENCE,

BUT I WON'T."

AND FINALLY, THINGS COME TO A HEAD,

WHERE A DRAMATIC GESTURE IS CALLED FOR.

YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? COME ON.

YOU SPILLED MY WHISKEY.

I MUST INSIST YOU BUY ME ANOTHER.

I SPILLED MY BLOOD FOR THE SOUTH,

AND I SWEAR I'LL DO IT AGAIN.

YOU'RE AN ODD STICK, YOU KNOW THAT?

HILLARD SECURES PERMISSION TO BRING DAVIES

TO A SECRET MEETING THAT HILLARD HAS BEEN SUMMONED TO.

RAISE YOUR HAND.

WILL YOU PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE SOUTHERN CAUSE?

I WILL.

PART OF THE BUSINESS OF THE EVENING WAS THAT DAVIES

HAD TO BE SWORN IN AS A MEMBER OF THIS BAND.

THERE SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN A LOT OF THAT GOING ON AT THE TIME,

OF SECRET SOCIETIES FORMING AND SWEARING OATHS.

WE HAVE A NEW MEMBER AMONG US.

ALL RIGHT. EVERYONE TAKE A BALLOT.

KEEP IT TO YOURSELF.

TURNS OUT THAT THE BUSINESS OF THE EVENING

IS GOING TO BE THE SELECTION

OF THE MAN WHO IS GOING TO ASSASSINATE

PRESIDENT-ELECT LINCOLN.

ONE BY ONE, THE MEN ARE GOING TO DRAW BALLOTS.

NO ONE IS TO KNOW WHO DREW THE BALLOT MARKED WITH AN "X."

WHAT MOST OF THEM DIDN'T KNOW IS INSTEAD OF THERE BEING

ONE BALLOT IN THE BOX, THERE WERE EIGHT.

EIGHT PEOPLE WHO CAME AWAY FROM THAT MEETING

APPARENTLY BELIEVING THAT THEY WERE THE ONE PERSON

WHO HAD BEEN SELECTED.

THIS WAS VERY CLEVER

BECAUSE IF ONE OR EVEN TWO PEOPLE LOST THEIR NERVE,

THERE WAS CERTAIN TO BE AT LEAST ONE

WHO WAS IN A POSITION TO STRIKE THE FATAL BLOW.

[ GUNSHOT ]

[ EXHALES SHARPLY ]

Franklin: PINKERTON'S EVERY WAKING THOUGHT WAS,

"I NEED TO PROTECT THIS MAN, AND I NEED TO SAVE HIS LIFE

"BECAUSE HE NEEDS TO BECOME THE PRESIDENT

OF THE UNITED STATES."

ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?

YOU SHOULD SLEEP.

WHEN LINCOLN IS SWORN IN.

LINCOLN HAD BEEN TETHERED TO THIS MOMENT-BY-MOMENT ITINERARY.

IF YOU WANTED TO KNOW WHERE LINCOLN WAS AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT,

ALL YOU HAD TO DO WAS LOOK IN THE NEWSPAPER.

PINKERTON'S PLAN WAS TO BREAK AWAY FROM THAT TIME TABLE

AND MOVE HIM THROUGH AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN FOR GRANTED BY THE CONSPIRATORS

THAT THE PRESIDENT WILL STAY ON HIS PUBLISHED ITINERARY.

AND THAT'S WHY ALLAN PINKERTON SEIZED ON THIS ONE ELEMENT

TO SHIFT EXPECTATIONS

AND SIMPLY MOVE THE PRESIDENT OUT OF HARM'S WAY.

Stashower: PINKERTON HIMSELF GOES UP TO RENDEZVOUS

WITH LINCOLN'S ADVISORS IN PHILADELPHIA.

HOW WILL YOU CONVINCE HIM OF YOUR PLAN?

I'LL TELL HIM OF THE PLOT

AND INSIST THE ONLY OPTION IS TO PLACE HIMSELF

UNDER MY PERSONAL PROTECTION IMMEDIATELY.

AND IF HE WON'T GO?

LINCOLN IS OFTEN QUICK TO DISMISS THREATS AGAINST HIM.

WHAT THEN?

YOU REALIZE THAT YOU'RE PROTECTING NOT ONLY A PERSON,

BUT YOU'RE PROTECTING THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENCY

OF THE UNITED STATES.

YOU CAN'T HELP BUT FEEL THE AWESOME WEIGHT

AND RESPONSIBILITY OF KNOWING THAT IF YOU DON'T DO YOUR JOB

100 PERCENT OF THE TIME CORRECTLY,

EVERY TIME, FIRST TIME,

THAT IT COULD CHANGE THE COURSE OF HISTORY.

[ TICKING ]

**

[ THUNDER CRASHING ]

PINKERTON IS NOW CONVINCED THAT THE DANGER IS REAL.

THE PROBLEM THAT FACES HIM NOW

IS GETTING LINCOLN AND HIS ADVISORS

TO TAKE THE THREAT SERIOUSLY.

MR. LINCOLN.

Franklin: PINKERTON HAD ONE THING GOING FOR HIM.

WE MUST TALK, SIR.

AND THAT WAS THAT THEY HAD MET BEFORE

WHILE PINKERTON WAS DOING AN INVESTIGATION

AND LINCOLN WAS A LAWYER IN SPRINGFIELD.

MY TOP OPERATIVES HAVE DEVELOPED THIS INFORMATION.

THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THIS FERRANDINI AND ASSASSINS

WILL BE WAITING.

THE BEST COURSE, THE ONLY COURSE, IS TO LEAVE TONIGHT,

PASS THROUGH BALTIMORE TO WASHINGTON

BEFORE ANYBODY KNOWS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN THERE.

IF THEY CAN SNEAK LINCOLN THROUGH TOWN

BEFORE THE CONSPIRATORS ARE IN POSITION,

BY THE TIME THE ASSASSINS TAKE THEIR POSITIONS

FOR THE SCHEDULED ARRIVAL OF LINCOLN'S TRAIN,

LINCOLN HIMSELF WILL ALREADY BE SAFE IN WASHINGTON.

I CANNOT GO TONIGHT, SIR.

I MUST ATTEND A FLAG-RAISING CEREMONY IN THE MORNING

AND MEET WITH THE HARRISBURG LEGISLATURE IN THE AFTERNOON.

BUT, MR. LINCOLN, IF I MAY BE SO...

I'VE PROMISED TO FULFILL THESE COMMITMENTS

EVEN IF IT MEANS MY DEATH.

BUT I WILL GO WITH YOU,

MR. PINKERTON, TOMORROW NIGHT.

THANK YOU, SIR.

IT'S A CONCESSION, BUT IT'S NOT WHAT PINKERTON HAD HOPED FOR.

NOW, PINKERTON HAS TO SCRAMBLE

TO BASICALLY DRAW UP A FRESH PLAN

THAT WILL GET LINCOLN THROUGH BALTIMORE SAFELY.

BUT HE'S GOT LESS TIME IN WHICH TO WORK.

HE WAS UP ALL NIGHT TRYING TO PUT THIS TOGETHER.

AND LUCKILY, SINCE HE'D BEEN WORKING FOR YEARS

AS A RAILROAD DETECTIVE, HE HAD THE KNOWLEDGE

AND THE CONNECTIONS WITH WHICH TO COBBLE TOGETHER THIS PLAN.

WHILE I'M TRAVELING LINCOLN OVER TO THE PWB LINE,

YOU'LL MAKE THE NECESSARY ARRANGEMENTS WE DISCUSSED.

UNDERSTOOD.

[ TICKING ]

IT'S TIME.

[ SPEAKING INAUDIBLY ]

PRESIDENT LINCOLN WAS A VERY, VERY TALL MAN.

HE WAS 6 FOOT 4.

AND, UH, HIS LOOKS WERE VERY, VERY DISTINCT.

AND SO, TO PUT HIM UNDERCOVER AND IN A DISGUISE

WOULD HAVE BEEN TRICKY AT BEST.

HOWEVER, WITH A VERY SLIGHT CHANGE OF COSTUME,

HAVING THE PRESIDENT-ELECT KINDA HUNCH OVER,

HE WAS ABLE TO GET AWAY WITH IT.

LINCOLN MELTED INTO THE POPULACE.

YOU HAVE TO IMAGINE

THAT HE WAS INCREDIBLY ANXIOUS

BECAUSE THIS PLAN COULD HAVE GONE WRONG

IN ANY NUMBER OF WAYS,

NOT LEAST OF WHICH WAS LINCOLN'S ASSASSINATION.

THEY DIDN'T WANT NEWS OF LINCOLN'S CHANGE OF PLANS

TO GET THERE AHEAD OF LINCOLN HIMSELF.

SO THE TELEGRAPH WIRES LEADING INTO BALTIMORE THAT NIGHT

WERE CUT BY PINKERTON AND HIS TEAM.

THE DISTRACTION WILL BE SET OFF HERE.

YOU ALL WILL BE POSITIONED AT DIFFERENT POINTS

ALONG THE TRACKS.

THE PLAN WAS THAT AS LINCOLN GOT OUT OF THE TRAIN,

SOME KIND OF DIVERSION WAS GOING TO BE STAGED,

AND IT WOULD DRAW AWAY ANY POLICE OR ESCORTS

FROM LINCOLN'S SIDE.

AND IN THAT MOMENT, SOMEONE WOULD STRIKE THE FATAL BLOW.

FERRANDINI WAS EXTRAORDINARILY DANGEROUS.

HE PUT TOGETHER AN INTELLIGENT PLAN, ONE THAT WAS PLAUSIBLE.

BY GUN OR BY KNIFE, LINCOLN WILL DIE AT THE STATION.

Stashower: WARD LAMON IS A FRIEND OF LINCOLN'S

FROM HIS LAWYERING DAYS IN SPRINGFIELD.

LAMON IS A BIG, POWERFUL GUY.

AND ON THE TRIP, TO THIS POINT, HE HAD APPOINTED HIMSELF

AS LINCOLN'S BODYGUARD.

THEY TRAVEL TOGETHER ON A SPECIAL TRAIN,

A PRIVATE TRAIN, THAT'S GOING TO CARRY THEM

FROM HARRISBURG TO PHILADELPHIA.

THE CONDUCTOR OF THE SPECIAL TRAIN HAS BEEN GIVEN ORDERS

TO PUT ON SPEED.

[ CRICKETS CHIRPING ]

MR. LINCOLN, YOU'RE AN HOUR AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.

WOULDN'T DO TO GET TO THE TRAIN STATION AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

BECAUSE THEN LINCOLN IS JUST GONNA BE SITTING THERE WAITING

FOR THE TRAIN TO PULL OUT.

IT WAS YOU THAT HAD ALL THE OTHER TRAINS SHUNTED OFF

THE LINES, SO, NATURALLY, WE WOULD BE EARLY.

ONE OF MANY CONCERNS THAT WAS FACING PINKERTON THAT NIGHT

WAS THAT IF ANYONE NOTICED THAT LINCOLN WAS NOT WHERE HE WAS

SUPPOSED TO BE, THE CONSPIRATORS IN BALTIMORE WOULD BE WARNED,

AND THEN LINCOLN WOULD BE WORSE OFF THAN HE HAD BEEN BEFORE.

GENTLEMEN, WE SHOULD GO.

**

PINKERTON IS A LAWMAN AND BELIEVES IN THE AMERICAN DREAM.

SO, CLEARLY, THE IDEA OF A PLOT TO ASSASSINATE

THE PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE UNITED STATES

IS HORRIFYING TO HIM.

HE WOULD HAVE VIEWED HIS OPPORTUNITY

TO PRESERVE THE LIFE OF THE PRESIDENT

AS AN EXTREMELY HIGH CALLING.

[ HAMMER CLICKS, GUNSHOT ]

PINKERTON DIDN'T WANT ANYONE TO KNOW

THAT LINCOLN WAS TRAVELING AND WAS ANYWHERE OTHER

THAN WHERE HE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE THAT NIGHT,

BECAUSE HE'D BE RELATIVELY ALONE AND UNPROTECTED.

WE WERE MEANT TO MEET A FRIEND HERE,

BUT HE APPEARS TO BE ELSEWHERE.

PLEASE DRIVE AROUND SO THAT WE MAY LOOK FOR HIM.

WELL, IT TURNS OUT THAT THEY'VE ACTUALLY GOT

SOME TIME TO KILL BEFORE THIS SPECIAL TRAIN IS SET TO DEPART.

THEY'VE GOT TO DRIVE AROUND.

SO THEY RIDE AROUND IN A CARRIAGE,

WANDERING AIMLESSLY THROUGH THE STREETS.

Franklin: IT WAS A "THINK ON YOUR FEET" TYPE OF SITUATION

THAT PINKERTON HAD TO DO IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE

THAT THE PRESIDENT WAS SAFE.

HAS THIS PLAN OF YOURS PUT US AT A RISK?

AS LONG AS MISS WARNE DOES HER PART, WE WILL BE FINE.

MR. CONDUCTOR, I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST BERTH

AT THE REAR OF THE SLEEPER CAR.

YOU SEE, MY BROTHER, HE'S AN INVALID, BLESS HIS HEART.

AND HE REQUIRES SPACE FROM THE OTHER PASSENGERS

SO THAT HE MAY REST ONCE BOARDED.

PART OF PINKERTON'S NEW PLAN INVOLVED LINCOLN TRAVELING

ON AN ORDINARY PASSENGER TRAIN, A SLEEPER CAR,

THAT WAS GOING TO TRAVEL FROM PHILADELPHIA TO BALTIMORE.

NOW, I KNOW YOU DON'T TYPICALLY RESERVE BERTH,

BUT YOUR KINDNESS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

IF YOU INSIST, MA'AM.

THAT'S REALLY WHERE KATE WARNE HAD HER MOMENT OF GLORY.

SHE HAS TO FIND A WAY OF SECURING THESE SLEEPING BERTHS

SO THAT LINCOLN'S NOT GONNA FIND HIMSELF, YOU KNOW,

SITTING ACROSS FROM SOME STRANGER.

[ CLICKS ]

BLESS YOUR HEART.

WHAT -- ARE YOU MAD?!

IF MR. LINCOLN IS A TARGET, HE SHOULD AT LEAST BE ABLE

TO DEFEND HIMSELF.

IF THERE'S ANY FIGHTING TO BE DONE,

IT WILL BE DONE BY MEN OTHER THAN MR. LINCOLN.

PINKERTON THOUGHT THAT LAMON WAS A BUFFOON.

HE HAD VERY LITTLE USE FOR HIM.

AND IN HIS REPORTS, DIRECTLY,

HE TALKS ABOUT BEING HIM BEING REALLY INCOMPETENT.

[ DOOR CLOSES ]

DEAR BROTHER.

IS EVERYTHING IN ORDER?

YES. THIS WAY.

Stashower: LINCOLN SLIPS IN AT THE BACK OF THE TRAIN.

THIS IS THE TRAIN THAT'S GOING TO CARRY HIM

FROM PHILADELPHIA INTO BALTIMORE.

[ TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS ]

YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER, AS A BOY, WALKING INTO THE SCHOOLYARD,

AND ONE OF THE OTHER CHILDREN REMARKED,

"HOW CRUEL A GOD TO MAKE A BOY ENTIRELY OUT OF LEGS

AND NOTHING ELSE." [ CHUCKLING ]

KATE WARNE RECORDED IN HER FIELD REPORT

THAT LINCOLN APPEARED TO BE THE CALMEST GUY IN THE ROOM.

AND HE WAS FULL OF FUN, AND HE'S MAKING JOKES.

SHE ALSO SAYS, "OF COURSE, HE WAS SO TERRIBLY TALL

"THAT HE COULDN'T LIE DOWN IN HIS SLEEPING BERTH.

IT WASN'T BIG ENOUGH TO ACCOMMODATE HIM."

KATE WARNE GOT OFF IN BALTIMORE.

IT'S TIME.

IT REALLY WOULDN'T DO FOR THE PRESIDENT-ELECT

OF THE UNITED STATES TO ARRIVE IN WASHINGTON

IN THE COMPANY OF A WOMAN WHO WAS NOT HIS WIFE.

GOODBYE, MR. LINCOLN. MA'AM.

THANK YOU, MISS WARNE.

GOOD LUCK.

THE RAILROAD LINE DIDN'T GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH TOWN.

SO WHAT HAPPENS THERE IS THAT THE SLEEPING COMPARTMENT

IS UNHOOKED FROM THE LOCOMOTIVE, HITCHED UP TO A TEAM OF HORSES,

AND PULLED THROUGH THE CENTER OF TOWN TO THE NEXT TRAIN STATION,

WHERE IT WAS GONNA BE HOOKED UP TO ANOTHER LOCOMOTIVE,

AND THEN YOUR JOURNEY WOULD CONTINUE.

AGAIN, THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE PLAN.

WHEREAS IN PHILADELPHIA, THINGS HAVE BEEN RUNNING

AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, NOW, THE TRAIN THAT IS SUPPOSED

TO CARRY THE SLEEPER THE REST OF THE WAY

TO WASHINGTON ISN'T THERE.

SOMEBODY'S GONNA NOTICE THAT ABRAHAM LINCOLN

IS SITTING THERE IN THIS TRAIN CAR.

[ SIGHS ]

WE'RE SITTING DUCKS.

**

IT MUST HAVE BEEN AN EXTREMELY TENSE MOMENT

FOR ALLAN PINKERTON,

WHO HAD PRETTY MUCH BASED HIS WHOLE PLAN

ON THIS TRAIN BEING THERE TO CARRY LINCOLN

SAFELY OUT OF TOWN.

THE PLAN SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN THAT LINCOLN WOULD BE

SET UPON BY KNIFE-WIELDING ASSASSINS.

BUT THERE WAS ALSO A GREAT DEAL OF TALK OF PISTOLS.

BEST TO MIND THE WINDOW, MR. LINCOLN.

PERHAPS BESIDE MR. LAMON.

IT WAS TERRIFYING BECAUSE LINCOLN WAS SURROUNDED.

PINKERTON'S DONE EVERYTHING THAT HE CAN DO.

HE HAS NO MORE CONTROL OTHER THAN THROWING HIMSELF

INTO THE LINE OF FIRE.

Stashower: HEAR A LOT OF CLANKING AND BANGING GOING ON

OUTSIDE OF THE CAR,

AND INCLUDING PEOPLE WHISTLING "DIXIE."

[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING ]

WHAT IS YOUR PLAN NOW, MR. PINKERTON?

[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC CONTINUES ]

[ LOUD CLANK ]

[ WHISTLE BLOWS ]

[ TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS ]

THERE'S VERY LITTLE SAID IN PINKERTON'S MEMOIRS

OF WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH HIS MIND

WHEN HE HEARD THAT WHISTLE BLOW AND THE TRAIN STARTED.

BUT I IMAGINE IT WAS "WHEW," BECAUSE, UH, IT HAD APPARENTLY

BEEN A VERY NEAR THING.

FINALLY, PINKERTON, LAMON AND LINCOLN

ARE CONVEYED OUT OF BALTIMORE AND DOWN TO WASHINGTON D.C.

Franklin: ONCE THAT TRAIN IS ROLLING

AND ONCE HE IS OUT OF IMMEDIATE DANGER,

THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO RELIEF

UNTIL THAT TRAIN PULLS INTO WASHINGTON D.C.

PINKERTON HAS BEEN UP FOR DAYS AT THIS POINT,

UNDER ALL KINDS OF STRESS,

AND HERE HE IS AT THE LAST MOMENT.

HE THINKS HE'S HOME FREE.

[ SUSPENSEFUL MUSIC PLAYING ]

MR. LINCOLN.

STOP! SIR.

THIS IS CONGRESSMAN WASHBURN.

YOU CAN HARDLY BLAME PINKERTON.

ALL HE KNOWS IS THAT THEY'VE BEEN UP ALL NIGHT

TRYING TO AVOID LINCOLN BEING RECOGNIZED,

AND NOW, HERE'S SOMEONE COMING STRAIGHT FOR HIM.

I DO BEG YOUR PARDON, SIR.

THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING, MR. PINKERTON.

IT HAS BEEN AN HONOR, SIR.

CONGRESSMAN.

Stashower: IT'S VERY HARD TO SAY WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED

IF PINKERTON HAD NOT BEEN ON THE SCENE.

BUT IF LINCOLN HAD BEEN ASSASSINATED,

THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THINGS WOULD HAVE UNFOLDED

VERY DIFFERENTLY.

THERE WERE A LOT OF VERY PROMINENT PEOPLE

IN THE UNITED STATES AT THAT TIME

WHO WERE URGING THAT WE JUST LET THE SOUTHERN STATES GO IN PEACE.

THERE YOU ARE.

ALL READY FOR YOUR PREMIERE, MR. BOOTH.

Papenfuse: JOHN WILKES BOOTH STAYED AT BARNUM'S HOTEL

WHENEVER HE PLAYED IN BALTIMORE.

THERE'S A FAIR CHANCE THAT BOOTH ACTUALLY SAT

IN FERRANDINI'S BARBER CHAIR.

Stashower: I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT STUNNED ME

WAS HOW EASILY DISASTER COULD HAVE HAPPENED.

AND IT'S FRIGHTENING TO THINK WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED

IF SOME HARM HAD BEFALLEN LINCOLN

IN THE DAYS BEFORE HE ACTUALLY BECAME PRESIDENT.

DURING THE CIVIL WAR, ALLAN PINKERTON WAS ASKED

BY PRESIDENT LINCOLN TO ACT AS SPY MASTER FOR THE UNION.

OF COURSE ALLAN PINKERTON ACCEPTS THIS ROLE

AND PUTS HIS DETECTIVES TO WORK FOR THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT.

WHEN ALLAN PINKERTON HEARD THAT PRESIDENT LINCOLN

HAD, IN FACT, BEEN KILLED,

HE BROKE DOWN IN EMOTIONAL TEARS

AND SAID, "IF ONLY I HAD BEEN THERE TO PROTECT HIM

AS I HAD BEFORE."

Stashower: THE PINKERTON AGENCY AND PINKERTON DETECTIVES

DEVELOPED THIS REPUTATION FOR BEING JUST RELENTLESS.

AND A LOT OF THAT REPUTATION, THAT DOGGEDNESS,

THAT RELENTLESSNESS, CAME FROM PINKERTON HIMSELF.

THERE WAS A CERTAIN STRENGTH OF CONVICTION

IN HIS OWN JUDGMENT THAT ENABLED HIM

TO SORT OF POWER THROUGH, CUT THROUGH,

TO THE HEART OF WHATEVER ELSE WAS GOING ON AROUND HIM.

THE REPUTATION OF THE PINKERTON AGENCY TODAY

IS TAINTED BY THEIR ACTIVITIES

IN UNION BREAKING,

IN STRIKE BREAKING.

BUT THAT IS NOT ALLAN PINKERTON.

HIS ENDURING LEGACY IS THE KIND OF SOPHISTICATED TECHNIQUES

THAT WE TAKE FOR GRANTED TODAY.

PINKERTON ABSOLUTELY LAID A CORNERSTONE

FOR THE SECRET SERVICE, IN THAT HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST

DETECTIVES TO INVESTIGATE A POTENTIAL THREAT

AND TO STOP THAT THREAT AGAINST A PRESIDENT-ELECT.

PINKERTON WAS THE RIGHT MAN FOR THE JOB.