Worst Presidents: Andrew Johnson (1865-1869)
Andrew Johnson has risen in scholarly dis-esteem since the publication of Arthur Schlesinger's 1948 poll probably because the post-Civil War Reconstruction has enjoyed a thorough scholarly face-lift, and Johnson is now scorned for having resisted Radical Republican policies aimed at securing the rights and well-being of the newly emancipated African-Americans.
Before he was president, historian Woodrow Wilson did a lastingly thorough job of sullying Reconstruction, depicting it as a vindictive program that hurt even repentant southerners while benefiting northern opportunists, the so-called Carpetbaggers, and cynical white southerners, or Scalawags, who exploited alliances with blacks for political gain.
A native North Carolinian of humble origins, Johnson worked as a tailor and eventually settled in Tennessee, where he entered politics as a populist Jackson Democrat. He was elected to several high offices, including U.S. senator.
Though no abolitionist, he was a staunch supporter of the Union and the only southerner to retain his seat in the Senate after secession. For his loyalty, Lincoln appointed him military governor of Tennessee, where he set about suppressing Confederates and championing black suffrage. (Tennessee became the first southern state to end slavery by state law.) Lincoln selected him as his running mate in 1864, and Johnson became the 17th president only a month after being sworn in as vice president.
Unfortunately, his subsequent battles with Radical Republicans in Congress over a host of Reconstruction measures revealed political ineptitude and an astonishing indifference toward the plight of the newly freed African-Americans. In addition to vetoing renewal of the Freedman's Bureau and the first civil rights bill, he encouraged opposition to the 14th Amendment.
An increasingly nasty power struggle—in which Congress wrongly attempted to strip him of certain constitutionally delegated powers—resulted in the first presidential impeachment and a near conviction. Failing to be renominated, he returned to Tennessee and was again elected to the U.S. Senate.
History's current verdict may prove to be overly harsh, but it is fair to say that Johnson did turn a blind eye to those southerners who tried to undo what the Civil War had accomplished.
Reader Comments
Andrew Johnson
Also, regarding Johnson turning "a blind eye to those southerners who tried to undo what the Civil War had accomplished": this implies that the goal of the war was to free the slaves, and then to give them equal rights.
But for Lincoln and many in the North the war was overwhelmingly about preserving the Union which was achieved completely and without qualification and Johnson had worked to make this a reality. Most likely his "soft" stance after the war (on civil rights) also further contributed to preserving the Union as it was in a delicate state and had cost so much to regain. Freeing the slaves, except for the abolitionists, was a secondary goal, which thank God was also achieved as well.
Andrew Johnson
I agree with Thomas (TN), 1865-1869 Was probably one of the very most difficult terms to be president. The divide between extreme "southerners" and extreme "northerners" was vast. Remember they are referred to as Radical republicans -- not radical according to our views today but at the time they were the extreeeme group -- on the civil rights side.
Because of this I think Johnson was an average President instead of one of the very worst. Remember, he was the Only Southern Senator to stick with the Union during the war which was one of the main reasons Lincoln chose him to be his running mate. Actually, considering this last fact I would rate him significantly above average since that must have taken an incredible amount of courage or possibly just rebelliousness (rebellious against the rebels) in order to do that.
He was more against the "aristocracy" of the southern slave holders than he was for freeing the slaves. He saw himself as fighting for the "average Joe" of the South, and North.
In fact, regarding sticking with the Union, when all the other Southern Senators had abandoned it, in explaining his decision he said he didn't care about the slaves, but that he did care most of all about maintaining the Union. His political work during and after the war (Senator, Vice President and then his "horrible" Presidency) only demonstrates the consistency of his actions with his prior statements -- which if you consider most Presidents is a pretty rare quality -- giving him several more points.
Andrew Johnson
I don't think Andrew Johnson was such a bad president. The problem was, he just didn't know how to be a leader he was more of a side-kick then a leader.
advertisement
