Description
Book Synopsis Born into a Sephardic Jewish immigrant family, Dr. Issachar Zacharie was the preeminent foot doctor for the American political elite before and during the Civil War. An expert in pain management, Zacharie treated the likes of Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun, General George McClelland and most notably, President Abraham Lincoln.
As Zacharie''s professional and personal relationship with Lincoln deepened, the President began to entrust the doctor with political missions. Throughout Lincoln''s presidency, Zacharie traveled to southern cities like New Orleans and Richmond in efforts to ally with some of the Confederacy''s most influential Jewish citizens.
This biography explores Dr. Zacharie''s life, from his birth in Chatham, England, through his medical practice, espionage career and eventual political campaigning for President Lincoln.
Trade ReviewIt is probable that most American historians, even those who specialize in our national fratricide, have never heard of Dr. Issachar Zacharie, Lincoln's English-born and Jewish chiropodist, confidante, emissary and spy. That is unfortunate, because he is one of the most extraordinary figures to come out of the Civil War era. E. Lawrence Abel has ably corrected the deficiency, giving Zacharie center stage with lots of light in this wonderful book. It gives one pause to wonder: How many other nuggets of gold remain hidden to us?" —John C. Fazio, author of
Decapitating the Union: Jefferson Davis, Judah Benjamin and the Plot to Assassinate Lincoln"A lively, well-researched, and richly textured account of Abraham Lincoln's 'enigmatic intimate,' spy and chiropodist, Issachar Zacharie. This biography adds a new dimension to the story of Jews and the Civil War." —Jonathan D. Sarna, Brandeis University, author of
When General Grant Expelled the Jews"Dr. Abel's sweeping research uncovered the real-life tale of a Jewish foot doctor who had the ear of President Abraham Lincoln and Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. Issachar Zacharie was a bon vivant, a humanitarian, a celebrated wit, a Grand Supreme Ruler of the Masons—and a wily Civil War spy." —Kathryn Canavan, author of
Lincoln's Final Hours"
Lincoln's Jewish Spy: The Life and Times of Issachar Zacharie is a rich, fast-paced yet meticulously researched account of a man who was, by turns, a Presidential confidant, confidence man, Chiropodist General of the Union army, would-be spymaster, Confederate peace negotiator and emissary to his fellow American Jews, who didn't always know whether or how to take him. Mostly overlooked until now, his Issachar Zacharie is by turns brave and roguish, selfless and self-dealing, passionate to help the Jews, the Union and mostly himself—in short the sort of character we often find lurking in the wings of the Lincoln story. Abel does a service to scholars and lay readers alike to place him at center stage." —Richard Willing, U.S. Intelligence Analyst
Table of Contents
- Acknowledgments
- Author's Note
- Introduction
- Part One. The Past Is Prologue
- 1. "Sucking the egg"
- 2. "Act according to the custom of that place"
- Part Two. I. Zachariah, Jr., Cheroperdist
- 3. "No Cure No Pay"
- 4. "Where more money could be made faster"
- 5. "We the undersigned"
- 6. "A humble individual"
- 7. California
- 8. "Prince of chiropodists"
- 9. The Mystic Cords of Memory
- 10. "A chiropodist of marvelous skill"
- 11. "Dr. Zacharie has operated on my feet"
- 12. "Ode to Dr. Zacharie"
- 13. "My own chiropodist is a Jew"
- Part Three. Spy and Diplomat
- 14. The General Prohibition
- 15. "Spare no expense"
- 16. Spymaster
- 17. "Monomaniacs"
- 18. A Service He Alone Was Capable Of
- 19. He Lacks Stability
- 20. "Done things for me that would astonish you"
- 21. "Can't go Lincoln"
- 22. "I promised I would elect you"
- 23. "My family are crazy with joy"
- Part Four. Later Years
- 24. "Surely you don't intend to go for Grant"
- 25. "Republics are unquestionably ungrateful"
- 26. Return to England
- 27. Death of an Eccentric Man
- 28. Aftermath
- Appendix: Zacharie's Accounts
- Chapter Notes
- Bibliography
- Index
