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“The Fifth Assassin” author Brad Meltzer on his research of the four Presidential assassinations for his new book.
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There been more than two dozen assassination attempts and our presidential history for successful.
In his latest mark my next guest explores the possibility that the four men who have succeeded in killing American presidents.
We're somehow link on a fifth assassin ready to strike again.
Joining us now is best selling author Brad Meltzer is new book is entitled the fifth assassin.
Getting rave reviews currently number three on the New York Times best seller list.
We expected to stay there for at least two years maybe maybe a year.
Brand has absolutely the most inventive mind when it comes to plotting and it's always a delight -- congratulations on the book.
Thanks for being here.
I reported to get this idea out of curiosity.
You know this one came from reality I had a long time reader who said to me.
Then he worked and it's secret museum he said Brad a working museum in Washington DC that almost nobody knows about I didn't have -- see what we have here.
And I said we'll tell me what you have.
And he -- me well we -- pieces of Abraham Lincoln skull we have the bones of John Wilkes Booth and we have the actual bullet that killed Abraham Lincoln would you like to come see it.
And when I got there they just have artifacts from the Lincoln assassination but they had some from the other assassinations as well.
And it got me thinking what if he had a serial killer -- meticulously recreated the crimes of all the presidential assassins from John Wilkes Booth.
To Lee Harvey Oswald and they're not just for lone wolves but they're all working together for the same secret cause for over a century.
And that's for the fifth assassin begins -- You you come -- with the most intriguing of course that's -- supposed to enter that's why we're world famous and that's a job possible.
But it I think it is it's it's truly something to marvel -- Let me ask you.
In this context and I wanna put the -- -- here.
Here's the -- it is selling like hot cakes.
And I could not help but say.
What about.
This target right over.
The cover of the book -- the American flag behind it.
How's this playing into the debate on gun control and all that is happening right now in our society.
You know it's a very fair question -- interest -- so many people.
When things happened in Newtown Connecticut said oh my -- what's the world coming through.
But when I side I realize that this has been happening over and over you look at the assassins who kill presidency have a couple things in common it's pretty amazing.
They're all meticulously neat.
They don't do any drugs they none of them for the most part almost our -- drinkers.
And most them are not even trouble -- until that moment where they pull the trigger.
And when you look at that three out of the former in their twenties when I look at what happens in Connecticut -- in Colorado and you see someone you know you say yourself oh my gosh what's happened.
A young twenty -- socio path is taking matters into their own hands that's not something that's just happening now it's been repeating throughout our history for over a century and a half.
Amazing and and the relationship between because now we're here video games Hollywood.
The role of fiction in influencing the minds of those with mental illness.
In who have the capacity of The Who find the wherewithal.
To carry out these horrible lack.
Your thoughts.
You know listen none of us who write fiction invented violence bonds have been around long before any of us put on the page.
But I pride myself on the book is the research so for instance former President Bush senior.
You know who just got out of the hospital.
A couple of years ago wrote me the best fan letter ever gotten my life and he said he liked my novel the millionaires and -- -- a -- pharmacy in the former president I'll send -- free book.
But your -- -- let me.
Now now I have -- right that's that's at least thank you do but the truth was is that I got to ask him listen this is fiction though I can make up whatever I want.
But we all know that -- only a few people who know what it's like a live in the White House and know what it's like when someone's out -- Achilles forgot to ask him why you scared of that.
Do you think of those moments in his answers.
Help me provide what you see in this fictional thriller so when you see the president react.
You're not just came when I'm making up but you're getting the things that former President Bush himself actually taught me in all the details -- real in the book like when you see Camp David.
It's not to CC inside Camp David you'll see the secret tunnel that runs below Camp David I wanna -- chapter 97 before you.
But you -- chapter 97 of the fifth assassin you'll see without tunnel comes out I obviously changed the security protocol but -- -- the -- and what's inside.
Fred thanks for being with us the book is the fifth -- as always we we -- -- -- --
