Presidents Final 4

A. Johnson

Photography Book

Father of US Grant, born in Pa, poverty, partner in Ohio tannery, marries at 27, son hates tannery, sends him to West Point to be a soldier, son resigns ’54 and fails at farming, works with father in Galena leather goods in ’61 before re-enlisting, revels in son’s success in army and politics.

Party*

Republican

Johnson, Andrew

Presidents - Republicans (Continued)

First of 4 Lincoln sons, Exeter and Harvard, AL places him on Grant’s staff (safety), remote from AL, marries daughter of Iowa Senator Harlan, commits mother to asylum in ’75 after Tad dies, law in Chicago, Sec of War ’81-85 (Garfield), UK Amb ’89-93 (Harrison), head of Pullman Palace Car Co., never sought political office, buried at Arlington Cemetery.

Years Served: 1865-1869 First Lady: Eliza McCardle Johnson Vice-President: Office Vacant

The Senate trial begins on March 6, with Republicans controlling 33 of the 48 seats. Supreme Court Chief Justice Salmon Chase presides, although his rulings are largely ignored. The event lasts for ten days before a final May 16 vote on Article 1 (“violation of the Tenure of Office Act”) falls one vote short (35-19) of getting the needed 2/3rds majority to convict. After two more Articles fail by the same margin, the trial ends on May 26 and Johnson retains his position as President.

Grant's Tomb

A. Lincoln

State

Mass

Iowa

Penn

Mass

Penn

Ill

Ohio

Years Served: 1881 First Lady: Lucretia Rudolph Garfield Vice-President: Chester A. Arthur

Jesse Root Grant (1794-1873)

Name (left to right) Benjamin Butler

James Wilson

Thad Stevens

George Boutwell

Thomas Williams

John Loigan

John Bingham

A. Johnson

History Book

Robert Lincoln (1843-1926)

The 1865 death of President Lincoln ushers in heightened conflict over Reconstruction between Moderate and Radical Republicans. The former includes President Andrew Johnson (from Tennessee) who favors lenience toward the post-war South; the Radicals are led by Edwin Stanton, Thad Stevens and Charles Sumner who call for much harsher forms of retribution.

In the summer of 1866, Johnson publicly labels the Radicals “traitors,” and they respond by passing a series of bills placing the ex-Confederate states under military control and forcing each to write new constitutions adopting the 14th Amendment, with citizenship and voting rights for blacks. Johnson vetoes these bills and the Radicals use their majorities to override him.

Johnson then attempts to rid his Cabinet of Secretary of War Stanton by naming General Grant as his replacement during a Congressional recess. The Radicals react by passing the “Tenure of Office Act” in March 1867 demanding that Stanton, along with all other appointees confirmed by the Senate, not be ousted without their “consent.” When Johnson pushes back on this obvious infringement of his constitutional powers, the Radicals call for his impeachment.

After several false starts, the House votes on February 24, 1868 to proceed – and one week later it approves 11 Articles (or charges) by a margins of roughly 127-42. The seven men shown below are chosen as “House Managers” to prosecute the case in front of the Senate acting as final jury.

Lincoln and Family

A. Johnson