james mcpherson, who did you come to see him at, at his death? lincoln was a master politician. politics was in his blood. it had been from the time he was a young man and as president of the united states and commander in chief of the army he wielded this political experience in the way that could unite the country on behalf of the war to save the union and eventually to abolish slavery. i think that all stems from his shrewdness and his skill as a politician. >> brown: and isabel wilkerson, you would write about the armath of all of this for so many african americans. what about in that first period in those first days? >> well, in those first days, there was a tremendous amount of uncertainty and yet hopefulness that somehow after so many generations of having been enslaved, that this would finally be the moment after the war that there would be this opportunity truly to be free and to partake of the country they had helped to build. it's important to recognize that the at this particular moment african americans had been enslaved for 246 year

c-span3 saturday 845 eastern for an all day event they include harold holzer james mcpherson and bash gras gannon the 150th industry of president obama lincoln's assassination with the ceremony at lincoln's cottage and take a tour of peterson house where the president died. get our complete schedule at c-span.org c-span.org.tour of peterson house where the president died. get our complete schedule at c-span.org. >> at age 25 she was one of the wealthiest widows and during the revolution while in her mid-40s she was considered an enemy by the british who threatened to take her hostage. later she'd become our nation's first first lady at age 57. martha washington, this sunday night at 8 p.m. eastern on c-span's original series first ladies influence answer image examining the public and private lives of the women who filled position of first lady and influence on the presidency from martha washington to michelle obama sundays at 8 p.m. eastern on american history tv on severe 3 and as a complement to the series c-span's new book first ladies, presidential historians on the lives of 45 i

i regret to say, and i will be the one that breaks the bad news, that james mcpherson will not be with us, something jim and we regret very much. despite his absence, the program will go just as it is in your programs. it will unfold just as the program says it will. i want to take the time to explain the structure of what we will do. there will be no lectures as such but rather for conversations in the course of the day. each of these conversations will feature four people, liz and i come each of us will be on each of them, we will be on to each and there will be to question-and-answer sessions one at the end of this morning's panels and the -- and one of the end of the afternoon's two panels. i have been asked to give you information about how to submit questions for these question and answer sessions. anybody here in the audience you will find blue sheets in the lobby of this building. you can pick them up and write a question on and submit it. it does not mean we can get to all the questions but send in questions and you might be one of them. for those watching on c-span questions

speakers include caroline jenning, james mcpherson and barbara gannon. sunday at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 eastern, the anniversary of her ham lincoln's assassination. we will take it to her of peterson house, where the president died. for the complete coverage -- for the complete schedule, go to c-span.org. >> during this month, c-span is pleased to present the winners of the student cam competition. it is c-span's annual competition that encourages middle and high school students to think about issues that affect the nation. students were asked to create a documentary based on the theme the three branches and you. they discussed how it has affected them or their community. madeleine bown has an entry about student loans. >> in the words of benjamin franklin, the education of youth is the surest foundation for happiness. good education provides americans with the grounds for success. federally subsidized student loans has made college more accessible for student. by offsetting the expense of higher education, federal student loans allow students to invest in their futures. yet s

harold holzer, james mcpherson, and barbara gannon.then saturday at 8:00 and 10:00 the 100th anniversary of president lincoln's assassination with a ceremony at lincoln's cotsage. re-creations from ford's theater and a tour of peterson house where the president died. get our complete schedule at cspan.org. >>> this weekend the c-span cities tour has partnered with comcast to learn about the city life of st. augustine, florida. >> opinions onponce deleon may or may not have been searching for the fountain of eshlgsternal youth. people said he was out for to find land for the king and colonization colonization. we know he came ashore after searching for good harbor, took on water and wood. this area presents one of the few freshwater springs in the area around 30 degrees, eight minutes, and is also the location of the 1565 first settlement of st. augustine, 42 years before the settlement of jamestown was founded and 55 years before the pilgrims landed on plymouth rock. >> the hotel ponce deleon was built by henry morrison flagler. now, f

speakers include caroline jeni, james mcpherson. and sunday at 8:00 a.m. and again at 10:00 p.m.astern, the 150th anniversary of president lincoln's assassination. recreations from ford's theater, and will take into our of the peterson house, where the president thy. -- died. >> at 825, she was one of the wealthiest widows in the colonies. entering the revolution, she was considered an enemy by the british. threatened to take her hostage. later, she would become our nation possible first first lady at age 57. martha washington. this on a night at 8:00 p.m. eastern. examining the public and private lives of the women who filled the position of first lady. from martha washington to michelle obama, sundays at 8:00 p.m. eastern on "american history tv." and as a covenant to the series, c-span's first book, "first ladies." providing lively stories of these fascinate women. it is now available as a hardcover or an e-book. through your favorite bookstore or your online bookseller. >> "washington journal" continues. host: we have a roundtable this morning on the state of working women in