Illinois Public Radio

Statewide: The murder of Abraham Lincoln

NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS | By Sean Crawford

Published April 17, 2026 at 3:12 PM CDT

President Abraham Lincoln was killed 161 years ago this week. The assassin, John Wilkes Booth, shot Lincoln as he and First Lady Mary Lincoln watched a play at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. On the 150th anniversary of the tragic event, the late author James Swanson told Renee Montagne what happened. On this episode, we revisit a pivotal moment in American history and travel to the scene of the crime.

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