Andrew Johnson: The First US President to be Impeached
Andrew Johnson (1808-1875) was the 17th President of the United States, who was suddenly thrust into the office in 1865 after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. A gruff Southern Democrat, Johnson favored a quick end to Reconstruction (circa 1863-1877), which pitted him against the Radical Republicans in control of Congress. His opposition to 'Radical Reconstruction' led to his impeachment in 1868, which he survived by a single vote. After leaving the presidency in disgrace on 4 March 1869, he plotted a return to national politics, but died on 31 July 1875 shortly after winning election to the US Senate. He is often ranked as one of the worst US presidents, unequal to the crucial moment of Reconstruction.
Early Life
Johnson was born into poverty. Indeed, as one acquaintance would later recall, Johnson's life was "one intense, unceasing, desperate upward struggle" (quoted in Foner, 176). He was born in a two-room cabin in Raleigh, North Carolina, on 29 December 1808. His father, Jacob Johnson, died when Andrew was only three – a poor and illiterate hotel porter, Jacob had dropped dead of a heart attack after rescuing two wealthy hotel guests from drowning. Andrew's widowed mother, Mary 'Polly' McDonough, was then left as the sole breadwinner for the family, working tirelessly as a washerwoman to provide enough food for Andrew and his older brother William (a third Johnson child, Elizabeth, had already died in infancy).
Perhaps to lighten her financial load, Polly decided to apprentice both her sons to James Selby, a local tailor. Only 14 years old, Andrew was contractually bound to work at Selby's shop until his 21st birthday. In the meantime, he learned the craft and became quite proficient at it. Oftentimes, as he worked, neighbors would come into the shop and read to him and the other apprentices; this sparked a lifetime love of reading and learning, which would serve Johnson well in his political development. In 1826, 17-year-old Johnson grew bored with life in Selby's shop. He and William broke their indenture and ran away, fleeing to New Carthage, North Carolina, where they began working as tailors. Selby issued warrants for their arrests, citing breach of apprenticeship, leading Johnson to return to his mother. The entire family soon moved West and travelled to Greeneville, Tennessee. There, Johnson opened his own tailor's shop in front of his home. He met Eliza McCardle, the 16-year-old daughter of a shoemaker. They began courting almost immediately and were soon married. Eliza helped her new husband further his education by tutoring him in reading, writing, and arithmetic, reading to him as he worked.
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⇒ Andrew Johnson: The First US President to be Impeached
