Help: Assassins

Subject: Assassins
From: GUEST,Les B
Date: 27 Mar 01 - 12:38 PM

There are several songs and tunes about the assassins who shot various American presidents in the 1800's --

"Charlie Guiteau done shot down a good man, good man..", "McKinnely he hollered, McKinnely he squalled, the doc said McKinnely I can't find the ball.." and "Booth Shot Lincoln" --

Are there any songs about more recent assassins, or their attempts ?? ie - Kennedy - Hinkely/Regan - the woman (?) who tried to take out Ford, etc.

Subject: RE: Help: Assassins
From: LR Mole
Date: 27 Mar 01 - 01:05 PM

Name was Sarah Jane Moore, I think."Who dodged Sarah Moore..." Sorry.

Subject: RE: Help: Assassins
From: Mountain Dog
Date: 27 Mar 01 - 01:19 PM

Lynette "Squeaky" Frome of Manson Family infamy also made an attempt on Ford's life. Don't know of any songs based on her exploits...nor can I think of a good reason for one.

Subject: RE: Help: Assassins
From: GUEST,fretless
Date: 27 Mar 01 - 01:22 PM

"the woman (?) who tried to take out Ford"

Actually, it was womEn: Sarah Jane Moore was one; the other, on a separate occasion, was Squeeky Fromm. Don't know of any songs, although I do recall that the NY Daily News, at the conclusion of her trial, ran the banner headline "Squeeky Gets Life: Presidential Assailant Hurls Apple at Prosecutor." There's gotta be a song in there someplace!

Subject: RE: Help: Assassins
From: GUEST,Fretless
Date: 27 Mar 01 - 04:54 PM

Go with Mountain Dog's spelling.

Subject: RE: Help: Assassins
From: harpmolly
Date: 27 Mar 01 - 06:41 PM

Check out Stephen Sondheim's musical "Assassins". It goes all the way up to Hinckley, and it's quite hilarious.

Each assassin's song is tailored to the era in which he or she lived. For instance, John Hinckley and Squeaky Fromme sing a seventies/eighties power ballad duet called "Unworthy Of Your Love," that is sung to Jodie Foster and Charles Manson, respectively. (I've always wanted to sing that song with someone. :))

The premise is that J.W. Booth, as the first assassin, appears to each of the rest of them and encourages them in their plan. The culmination of the plot is that when Lee Harvey Oswald is sitting in the Texas Book Depository preparing to kill HIMSELF, Booth and the rest of them appear to HIM and convince him to kill the President instead. It's powerful and entertaining. (I should add that I was once in this show so I'm biased ;)).

I would highly recommend the original Broadway cast recording, which features Victor Garber (an amazing actor with a beautiful voice) as John Wilkes Booth. If you can't stand Broadway musicals, just think of it as a compendium of American musical styles. ;)

Hope this helps! Have fun!

Molly

Subject: RE: Help: Assassins
From: harpmolly
Date: 27 Mar 01 - 06:43 PM

P.S. "The Ballad of Booth," in the above named musical, is very much an old-timey style song. If you need more incentive. ;)

M

Subject: RE: Help: Assassins
From: GUEST,kendall
Date: 27 Mar 01 - 07:14 PM

Mr. Garfield's been shot down, shot down, shot down..etc

Subject: RE: Help: Assassins
From: GUEST,Les B
Date: 27 Mar 01 - 07:28 PM

Mollificent - thanks much. I didn't realize a whole show had been made from that idea.

I just found it strange that songs about assassins would be conceived and thrive in one century, and nothing be written in the next.

Subject: RE: Help: Assassins
From: harpmolly
Date: 27 Mar 01 - 07:34 PM

I know, I know, I'm a hopeless theatre geek. So sue me. ;)

But after you sue me (and much good may it do you, too :D), go out and get the cast recording. It's fun.

M

Subject: RE: Help: Assassins
From: Ebbie
Date: 27 Mar 01 - 07:47 PM

Contrary to my belief, Garfield didn't die as a direct result of the assassination attempt. He was shot in July 1881 and didn't die until the middle of September. Does anyone know more about that? Was he shot in the belly, for instance?

Chester A. Arthur finished out Garfield's term but his (Republican) party didn't support him for his own term, but instead nominated James G. Blaine. That's when Grover Cleveland won the presidency.

As much as I like history you'd think I'd get these things straight in my mind!

Ebbie

Subject: RE: Help: Assassins
From: GUEST,Pete Peterson at work
Date: 28 Mar 01 - 10:39 AM

Garfield DID die as a "direct result" of teh assassination, it just took a while. IIRC he was shot in the back; Guiteau's first bullet missed and Garfield turned away; the bullet landed somewhere in his abdomen and they could not find it. (no X-rays for another 20 years!) At some point the doctors thought a change in climate might help so they moved him by special train to Sea Bright NJ (not too far from Annap!) and he died there of infection, about three months after the assassination. Somewhere in English common law it states that the victim must die within "a year and a day" of the blow for the charge to be 1st degree murder -- I believe deep in the recesses of American law it says the same. Guiteau was tried, convicted (despite the insanity defense) and hanged.

Subject: RE: Help: Assassins
From: Whistle Stop
Date: 28 Mar 01 - 11:08 AM

Curious historical fact: Air conditioning was first invented in an effort to make the dying Garfield more comfortable, and perhaps improve his chances for recovery. Didn't work, obviously.

Subject: RE: Help: Assassins
From: GUEST,Les B
Date: 28 Mar 01 - 11:36 AM

My goodness, the stuff you learn when you get into folk music - history, law, and air conditioning !!!