Interesting Things with JC #1704: "Lincoln Wasn't the Only Target" – John Wilkes Booth killed President Abraham Lincoln while three other assassins moved against Vice President Andrew Johnson, Secretary of State William H. Seward, and General Ulysses S. Grant in a coordinated attempt to cripple the United States government in a single night. On July 5, 1865, President Andrew Johnson signed the order confirming the convictions of the conspirators who tried to assassinate not only Abraham Lincoln, but also the vice president, secretary of state, and commanding general in a single coordinated plot.

Interesting Things with JC #1701: "July 2, 1776 - The Day the Decision Was Made" – Congress was already directing a war against Great Britain while still debating whether the colonies should become independent. On July 2, 1776, delegates voted to make independence official, then immediately turned to editing the Declaration that would explain a decision that had already been made.

Interesting Things with JC #1702: "July 3rd, 1776 - The Message Had to Be Perfect" – Congress was rewriting Thomas Jefferson's Declaration of Independence after the colonies had already voted for independence, removing entire passages and reshaping its language before a single copy could be printed until the document became a statement meant for the world instead of one man's argument.