Lincoln had arrived late to the play at Ford’s Theatre and the action on stage had been stopped in order to play the traditional song of a presidential entrance, “Hail to the Chief.” In this large hall full of spectators, some of whom had come to the theater that night expressly to get a glimpse of the president and his guests, the sense of uncertainty that reigned throughout the country was not to be found. To see the president doing something as normal as going to the theater gave people the sense that the war was really nearing its conclusion…