Andrew Johnson: The American Presidents Series: The 17th President, 1865-1869

The unwanted president who ran afoul of Congress over Reconstruction and was nearly removed from office nbsp; Andrew Johnson never expected to be president. But just six weeks after becoming Abraham Lincolns vice president, the events at Fords Theatre thrust him into the nations highest office. nbsp; Johnson faced a nearly impossible taskto succeed Americas greatest chief executive, to bind the nations wounds after the Civil War, and to work with a Congress controlled by the so-called Radical Republicans. Annette Gordon-Reed, one of Americas leading historians of slavery, shows how ill-suited Johnson was for this daunting task. His vision of reconciliation abandoned the millions of former slaves (for whom he felt undisguised contempt) and antagonized congressional leaders, who tried to limit his powers and eventually impeached him. nbsp; The climax of Johnsons presidency was his trial in the Senate and his acquittal by a single vote, which Gordon-Reed recounts with drama and palpable tension. Despite his victory, Johnsons term in office was a crucial missed opportunity; he failed the country at a pivotal moment, leaving America with problems that we are still trying to solve.