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30m 17s

America’s First Great Manhunt: The 12-Da...

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About this episode

On this episode of Our American Stories, after Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, the United States launched a massive twelve-day manhunt for his killer, John Wilkes Booth. Thousands joined the pursuit as Booth fled through Maryland and Virginia, narrowly evading capture at every turn.

Historian and New York Times bestselling author James L. Swanson shares the story behind Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln’s Killer, reconstructing Booth’s escape, the people who helped him, and the relentless chase that followed one of the darkest moments in American history. We'd like to thank the Library of Congress for allowing us access to this audio.

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