On Good Friday, April 14, 1865, just five days after the end of the
Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by a bitter
Confederate sympathizer named John Wilkes Booth. Lincoln became an
instant martyr, immortalized as the "The Great Emancipator." After
Lincoln's assassination, the commonest of men tried to fill the
gigantic void. Andrew Johnson, a self-educated tailor from
Tennessee, became the 17th President of the United States, and the
first to enter office after the murder of his predecessor. Rising
above an impoverished childhood, Johnson was truly a self-made man,
learning a useful trade and developing his own successful business.
At the same time, he rapidly ascended the poltical
ladder--Alderman, Mayor, State Legislator, Congressman, Governor of
Tennessee, United States Senator, Military Governor of
Union-occupied Tennessee, Vice-President, and President of the
United States. As the only lawmaker from the South to remain in
Congress after the outbreak of the Civil War, Andrew Johnson was
the ultimate "Loyalist." In recognition for his dedication to the
Union, Johnson was nominated as Abraham Lincoln's running mate in
the 1864 presidential election. Barely a month into his
vice-presidency, Johnson was thrust on the center stage of America
politics. After Lincoln was murdered, the tailor from Tennessee
ascended into the unenviable position of succeeding a legend.
Johnson's obstinancy and rigid interpretaion of the Constitution
soon placed him at odds with the Republican congression leadership
and the national press. The bitter chasm widened as the Johnson
presidency lurched forward, and ultimately led to his being the
first President in American history to be impeached by the House of
Representatives. By a single vote, Johnson avoided conviction by
the Senate, and forfeiture of of office. After narrowly surving
this constitutional crisis, Johnson's historical legacy was
irrevocably damaged, and his hopes for an elected term as President
were dashed. Returning to Tennessee after his presidency, Johnson
was determined to return to political office. In remarkable
fashion, he was elected to the United States Senate, marking the
first and only time that a former President has returned to serve
in that legislative body. Ambitous, lacking humility, and largely
humorless, Johnson was unable to tolerate criticism. He angrily
attacked his foes, once likening himself to Christ on the Crucifix.
His combative personality and intemperate remarks readily allowed
his enemies to portray him as vindictive and unstable. "The
Loyalist: The Life and Times of Andrew Johnson" is a concise
biography of the 17th President of the United States, focusing upon
the tumultuous years surrounding the American Civil War. Sustained
by courage and ambition, Johnson was inevitably doomed by
petulance, leading to a remarkable rise, dramatic fall, and partial
vindication.
General
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