What did Booth request Jones to bring upon his return? Why?

• A. A piece of Lincoln's hat; to commemorate the act
• B. A bottle of whiskey to celebrate
• C. A current Washington newspaper from the day Lincoln died, or that very day because he was eager to read about what he had done
• D. A map to plan escape

Answer: (C)

Booth’s immediate priority was to see how the act would be presented to the public. He asked Jones to bring a Washington newspaper from the day Lincoln died, or the same day, because he was eager to read about what he had done. This shows his fixation on publicity and the public record—he wanted the first accounts and how the event would be described as soon as possible. The other possibilities don’t fit the moment: bringing Lincoln’s hat would be commemorative, a bottle of whiskey would imply celebration, and a map to plan escape would be a tactical move not tied to his immediate need to read the news. The newspaper request directly reveals Booth’s interest in the aftermath and public reaction.