Why is Lincoln so hot right now?

>>> as abraham lincoln understood, there are things we do better together. we want to give these gateways of opportunity for all americans , because if all americans are getting opportunity, we're all going to be better off.

>> president obama invoking the name abraham lincoln last night calling in mind the first debates in history between lincoln and steven douglas. they were part of the race for one of illinois's two senate seats. lincoln lost the debates and elections, but the conversations launched him into national prominence and lincoln went on to become one of the the greatest presidents today. what if that's what got him killed, changing the course of the nation? the next guest tells the story of an assassination plot wider and far more sinister than we imagined. joining us is timothy o'brien, the executive editor of the huffington post and the author of "the lincoln conspiracy."

>> it's great to be here, s.e.

>> i love alternative history and the kinds of things eric larson does with history. this is a combination of history and fiction. tell me, was this a conspiracy you actually believe in? do you think think this is what happened or did you dream this up to sort of enhance a novelistic new version of history?

>> lincoln conspiracy is a historical thriller about this incredible moment of change after the lincoln assassination and the industrialization of america and cities and society and ferment. and the assassination is really a departure point for looking at all these forces that were set in motion, women's rights, civil rights , all wedded to what i hope to be a very captivating yarn about a detective and his wife who come into possession of two diaries that offer secrets about the lincoln assassination .

>> tim , lincoln is hot to death right now. there's your book about lincoln , steven carter wrote a book "the impeachment of abe lincoln ." there was a movie " lincoln vampire hunter . qrequesting requesting of course, the daniel day -lewis movie which comes out next month.

>> congress must never declare equal those who god created unequal.

>> leave the constitution alone.

>> stepped out on the world's stage with the fate of human dignity in our hands. blood has been spilled to afford us this moment, now, now, now. he really looks like lincoln , but the question is why is lincoln so hot right now?

>> i think lincoln has always been hot. he's one of those mythical figures in american history , and i think we as a society revisit him from time to time because he's so compelling, and i think the lincoln conspiracy is an effort to recapture the magic of who lincoln was and essentially translate that into the character of tamplle mcfadden who is an avenging angel who wants to understand why the assassination occurred and is determined to bring to justice those who were responsible.

>> toure mentioned it, the metrosexual black abe lincoln line which has gotten a lot of attention. the backstory was this was a republican super pac, a guy was willing to put some money forward and a consultant came up with a plan to beat barack obama and one of the centerpieces of it was they would tell the country that obama had deceived americans by painting himself as a metrosexual black abe lincoln . the plan was junked. i have been baffled --

>> because it's a compliment.

>> what does it mean? any idea?

>> i have no idea even where to begin with that one but if someone called me a metrosexual white abraham lincoln i would be happy to take that one on. he was one of the best writers who ever occupied the white house . he was a man of principle, and he navigated very complex forces in society at that time. slavery, the fate of the union, the industrialization of the country, and all of that is the background in "the lincoln conspiracy," and he haunts the pages of the book in that regard.

>> tim , quickly, totally different subject but you're also a business writer. what are you expecting from the big jobs number tomorrow?

>> i don't even get into the crystal ball . i can't say that on this program, can i?

>> no, you can't.

>> a name joke.

>> i'm sorry, that must happen a lot. i have no idea what to expect out of the jobs number. i think what's going to happen in the economy is on everyone's mind today but i'm knot going to venture is guess.

>> tim o'brien.

>> thanks for having me.

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