Lincoln’s Greatcoat: The Unlikely Odyssey of a Presidential Relic

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Abraham Lincoln’s greatcoat has been called a seminal piece of the American story. Brooks Brothers crafted it in honor of the president’s second inauguration. The coat’s wool was finer than cashmere and its silk-embroidered lining read, One Country, One Destiny. Lincoln was wearing the garment when he was assassinated on April 14, 1865.

After her husband’s death, Mrs. Lincoln gave the greatcoat to a faithful White House doorkeeper. More than a century after her bequest, the coat was returned to Ford’s Theatre, but not before it underwent a mysterious and exciting journey. This book recounts that journey as a reminder of the 16th president and his call to bind up wounds and care for others.