Posted on 02/23/2006 9:25:17 AM PST by Borges
SAGINAW, Mich. Feb 22, 2006 (AP)— Even though Jay Leno messed up a big piece of his family history, Thomas B. Mudd still is one of the late-night talk show host's biggest fans.
That's because when Mudd pointed out the mistake involving his great-grandfather, Dr. Samuel A. Mudd, and his role in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, Leno called him in Saginaw to personally apologize.
Leno made the miscue in late January while interviewing actor Harrison Ford, who soon will begin filming "Manhunt," a movie about the Lincoln assassination.
The "Tonight Show" host said that for years, newsman Roger Mudd worked to clear his grandfather's name. But it really was Thomas Mudd's father, the late Dr. Richard D. Mudd of Saginaw, who spent years seeking exoneration. Roger Mudd is a distant relative.
Dr. Samuel Mudd of Maryland set assassin John Wilkes Booth's broken leg after the shooting. Mudd was convicted of complicity and was imprisoned for nearly four years before being pardoned by President Andrew Johnson. But the government never completely cleared the doctor.
Thomas Mudd sent a letter to the show's producers pointing out the mistake. On Feb. 2, Leno called Mudd, a historian and preservationist, to apologize.
"I'll tell you one thing, he's a real gentleman," Mudd told The Saginaw News for a story published Tuesday.
The two talked about cars because they both own vintage Saabs.
"He could have had his secretary call, if anyone called at all, but no. He called me directly and said, `This is Jay Leno. I want to apologize.'"
Although Leno said he would not have time to apologize or correct the mistake on the air, Mudd said he understood that and still is a Leno fan.
Mudd fears the movie, due out in 2007, will be a sensationalized account of Lincoln's death that will accuse his great-grandfather of taking part in a Confederate conspiracy.
"I'm getting ready for battle," Mudd said. "There is not one shred of evidence linking my great-grandfather to a conspiracy plot, and all of this Mudd-bashing is not funny to me."
I respect this guy. He respects his roots, and he is willing to fight to defend his family's honor(without issuing a fatwa on Harrison Ford).
I guess he is concerned his family name will be mud...
OK, it was funny in my head.
If I recall correctly, that's *exactly* where the phrase originated.
It was respectful that Leno personally called him and acknnowledged the mistake.
Am just finishing up American Brutus, a relatively new look at Booth and the Lincoln assassination, and their seems very little to connect Mudd to the plot. Booth's genius was apparently in making others appear co-conspirator even when they were not. That would keep them from testifying against him (had he lived).
Interesting read.
Really? OK, now that's some funny chit....
Have you had a chance to visit the Ford Theater in DC?
If not, do so. You would enjoy it.
Have been there several times (I live in MD, so it's not too far)
went once as a kid on a tour with my school, and saw Godspell there as a teen.
pretty cool place both times.
"There is not one shred of evidence linking my great-grandfather to a conspiracy plot, and all of this Mudd-bashing is not funny to me."
The (full, not cropped) photo of Lincoln's second inaugural shows a number of persons directly below where Lincoln is speaking. These appear to be Paine, Adzerot (sp?), and others, including possibly Mudd.
Booth is identified above Lincoln, watching beside Ford (owner of Ford's theater).
There is considerable evidence that there was a plot to at least kidnap Lincoln that day, if not more. (Fortunately this failed, and we got the magnificient second inaugural address.)
On the night of the assassination, various persons were arreseted by the (incompentent?) DC police and photographed. One photo shows someonne who MAY be Mudd, but this cannot be determined from the photo (perhaps with modern analysis?)
In any case, assuming Mudd was associated with the kidnap conspiracy (and his name appears in papers of those involved in that plot), is it likely that Booth would have NOT mentioned to him what had just happened in Washington, when he stopped by to get his leg set? Or that Mudd wouldn't have asked him why he was so furiously attempting to escape the city?
IOW, the evidence of Mudd's involvement with Booth's group is plentiful; the evidence of his direct knowledge of the assassination is less certain, but I would be wary of clearing his name just as of yet.
That's exactly where the phrase originated. A number of years ago, Dennis Weaver played Samuel Mudd in a TV movie, which most historians concur shows the accurate account.
Samuel Mudd was in the wrong place at the wrong time, and was caught up in the frenzy to arrest anyone or anything. Although he wasn't executed, he was sent to Fort Jefferson (a hellhole in the Dry Tortugas). When the prison was overrun with yellow fever, he treated many prisoners, even though he caught the disease himself at one point.
After serving four years, he was finally pardoned by Andrew Johnson, but wasn't completely exonerated until over a century later. If memory serves, his exoneration was signed by Ronald Reagan.
Why not visit Dr. Mudds home , it is only a few miles outside Waldorf, about 20 miles from DC., and take in the Surratts Tavern at Clinton, Md. on the way down.
By the way Dr. Mudd went to prison , but they hanged Mrs. Surratt and they didnt have any real evidence on her either.
"Have you had a chance to visit the Ford Theater in DC?
If not, do so. You would enjoy it."
I did, years ago. It was fascinating to find the theater so small - I had imagined it so much bigger. Don't forget to visit the room where Lincoln died, which is across the street.
Republicans need to fight for the notion that Reagan was the reason the "Wall" came down or the libs will give credit to Gorby for being a nice guy. Mudd is doing a noble thing trying to keep his name clean, but he will be drowned out by the people who don't care if it's true or not. Pop Culture decides what is true and what is important, even when proven wrong, the perception remains for decades.
Let's see, did the liberals lose the Viet Nam War on purpose, or was it a just war fought by hero's with their hands tied? Let's ask Oliver Stone, the historian.
Dr. Samuel Mudd, a direct descendent, was a psychology professor at Gettysburg College when I went there. I never had him for class but knew him through several organizations.
I saw Godspell there as a teen, too...1973, I believe.
Stone isn't a historian he's a dramatist. The blurring of the lines between what Stone (and anyone else who creates historical fiction) does and what the historian does is the reason so many people needlessly complain.
I think you failed to see chuckles' "/sarc" tag...
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_293.html
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