Letter from Lincoln's Cabinet to Andrew Johnson

Full Title

Letter from Lincoln's Cabinet to Andrew Johnson

Description

Lincoln's Cabinet wrote to Andrew Johnson the day of his assassination to inform him of the events and to inform him of the next move for the U.S. government.

Transcription

Washington City DC
April 15, 1865, -

Sir:
Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, was shot by an assassin last evening, at Ford's Theater in this city and died at the hour of 22 minutes of seven o'clock.
About the same time at which the President was shot, an assassin entered the back chamber of the house of Wm H. Seward, Secretary of State, and stabbed him in several places,
in the throat, neck, and face, severely if not mortally wounding him. Other members of the Secretary's family were dangerously wounded by the assassin while making his escape.
By the death of President Lincoln, the office of President has devolved under the Constitution upon you. The emergency of the government demands that you should immediately qualify, according to the requirements of the Constitution and enter upon the duties of President of the United States. If you will please make known your pleasure, such arrangements as you deem proper will be made.

Your Obedient Servants,
Hugh McCulloch Secretary of the Treasury
Edwin M Stanten Secretary of War
Gideon Welles Secretary of Navy
W. Dennison Postmaster General
J.P. Usher Secretary of the Interior
James Speed Attorney General

Source

U.S. National Archives, General Records of the Department of State

Rights

This item is in the public domain and may be reproduced and used for any purpose, including research, teaching, private study, publication, broadcast or commercial use, with proper citation and attribution.

Tags

• transcribed

• Person

• government: U.S.

• assassination details

• assassination night

• diplomatic

• orders

• political

Cite this Item

National Archives. "Letter from Lincoln's Cabinet to Andrew Johnson". General Records of the Department of State. Remembering Lincoln. Web. Accessed December 30, 2024. https://rememberinglincoln.fords.org/node/1198

Item Type

Letter

Creator

National Archives

Publisher

General Records of the Department of State

Date

1865-04-15

Region

District of Columbia