Assassination Vacation

The more things change, the more they remain the same. So what can we learn from an examination of three U.S. presidential assassinations -- those of Abraham Lincoln, and Presidents Garfield and McKinley? A lot if our guide is Sarah Vowell.
Written in a breezy, entertaining way, this book is nonetheless quite serious. Vowell takes us on a trip through history and also across present-day America, exploring the paths of the men who snuffed out the lives of these presidents, everywhere making incisive and insightful connections. Tying these three presidential victims together is the frustrated and unheroic figure of Robert Todd Lincoln, the dead president's son, who lived into the 1920s, was president of the Pullman Company and Secretary of War and who seemed to show up on the scene whenever a president was about to be assassinated.
I learned so much from this book, that the state song of my home state of Maryland is in fact a subtle hymn supporting the Confederacy and slavery, that prior to the introduction of income tax in 1913, the New York Customs House collected an astounding two thirds of the Federal Government's revenue -- and of course it was rife with corruption, that McKinley changed the way the Civil War was viewed, making it a narrative of "valor on both sides" instead of a struggle to abolish the evil of slavery which is still the way many remember it today. It's surprising how much physically remains from these murders -- body parts of the slain presidents preserved in museums, dusty markers by country roadsides, letters, diaries and much more. I learned that Charles Guiteau who killed Garfield, belonged to a weird sect called the Oneida community that practiced free love without male ejaculation. At his trial, he came up with the great defense that he had not killed Garfield, he had merely shot him. It was the doctors who killed him. It had the virtue of being true. They still hanged him.
Vowell draws interesting parallels between the Spanish-American war and our current Iraq War. And of course, we know that Karl Rove modeled himself on McKinley's political strategist, Mark Hanna.
This was a great read, an intellectual feast and a wonderful trip in the company of an expert guide.
For more on me and my bookThe Nazi Hunter: A Novel go to www.alanelsner.com

I received this book as a gift and when I read the inside cover, I knew I was going to love it. I enjoy reading about certain events in history, but a lot of the books written about them are slow reads and dry. This book kept my attention and made me laugh! I thoroughly enjoyed it and am now collecting Sarah Vowell's books. I can't wait to read more..

Assassination Vacation by Sarah Vowell is a trippy field trip to both the exciting and the mundane locations along the way to three presidential assassinations--Abraham Lincoln's, James Garfield's, and William McKinley's. Vowell, the NPR commentator, is forthright in her disdain for our current president, analyzing her feelings against the backdrop of those just crazy enough to commit murder for their ideology. Vowell is humorous and her opinions are clear without being overwrought, but more than anything she is informative. She's fascinated by presidential history, and reveals details both obscure and eye-popping. Even after reading Manhunt, the excellent analysis of Lincoln's murder by James Swanson, I still picked up new insights from Vowell, particularly the preponderance of evidence against Dr. Samuel Mudd, the doctor who assisted the fleeing John Wilkes Booth. The life of Garfield's killer, Charles Guiteau, is explored and the reader is acquainted with the odd Oneida Community cult of the 19th century. Guiteau was a frustrated failure at this free-sex community where he was often referred to as "Get Out" by the non consenting ladies. Finally, McKinley's murder in Buffalo (by Leon Czolgosz) is explored, a story which features the assassin's punch-out by a waiter and the dramatic ride of Theodore Roosevelt from the crest of the Adirondacks to take command of the country. A great read through-and-through, Assassination Vacation scores an A-.

I usually don't write reviews, but when i saw that this book didn't have 5 of 5 stars i was shocked! I loved it. Not only do I own the book, I own the author narrated audio version!

America needs more Sarah Vowell. Perhaps more importantly, I need more Sarah Vowell. I know this review won't exactly make me one of Amazon's Top Reviewers. Nevertheless, I'm just saying. Sarah Vowell, here's five stars -- for you.