What did Dr. Charles Leale do when he arrived at Ford's Theatre?

• A. He treated the crowd and then left.
• B. He arrested Booth.
• C. He examined Lincoln for knife wounds and, upon finding a bullet, realized Lincoln had been shot and attempted CPR.
• D. He announced Lincoln's death.

Answer: (C)

When doctors arrive at a scene like this, the first priority is a quick, focused assessment to determine if the person can be saved. Dr. Leale did exactly that: he examined Lincoln for life-threatening injuries and checked for other trauma, including a possible knife wound. That quick survey makes sense in a chaotic moment when multiple injuries might be present and the immediate question is whether there is hope for revival. Once he found a bullet wound, it became clear to him that Lincoln had been shot, not merely wounded in another way. He then attempted to revive him, performing CPR in an effort to save him. This sequence—rapid assessment, identification of a gunshot, and an attempt at resuscitation—explains why this option is the best fit for what he did on arrival.