Best-selling author Brad Meltzer found the story behind his latest book, "The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington," in a footnote. Hesaid he took the surprising information to Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Joseph Ellis.

"I went to him and I said, 'Did this really happen?' And it really happened. When it happened, George Washington rounded up those responsible. He took one of themain conspirators and he hung him in front of 20,000 people - the largest public execution at that point in North American history," Meltzer said Tuesday on "CBS ThisMorning." "He brought the hammer down, was like, 'I'm George Washington. Don't mess with me. I'm going to be on the money one day.'"

So how did the story of the plot get lost in history?

"Hanging happened on June 28, 1776. Guess what was happening in the world? The Declaration of Independence. The British were literally there and this gets lost toit," Meltzer said.

The book details an effort to undermine the American Revolution just before the signing of the Declaration of Independence and with British troops about to invade New YorkCity. The plot connects counterfeiters, leading New York politicians and even the future president's own bodyguards. At the time, Washington had private bodyguards, Meltzersaid, who were the "best of the best" from his regiments.

To read the complete article, see:
How author Brad Meltzer uncovered the secret plot to kill GeorgeWashington (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/brad-meltzer-new-book-the-first-conspiracy-plot-to-kill-george-washington/)

To read a Wall Street Journal review (subscription required), see:
'The First Conspiracy' Review: The Skulduggery of King George(https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-first-conspiracy-review-the-skulduggery-of-king-george-11547077659)