Today in History

December 29, 1808
The Impeachment of Andrew Johnson
Andrew Johnson, the 17th president of the United States and the first president to be impeached, is born on this day in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1808. Johnson comes to power in 1865 following Abraham Lincoln's assassination. He angers many in Congress when he vetoes legislation guaranteeing the civil rights of former slaves but grants full amnesty to former Confederates. When Johnson dismisses Secretary of War and critic Edwin M. Stanton, he is impeached for violating the Tenure of Office Act, which required the Senate's consent to remove officials confirmed by Congress. Johnson escapes removal from office by a single congressional vote.



Today's Feature History Article

President Lyndon B. Johnson

The Unmaking of the President

Lyndon Johnson believed that his withdrawal from the 1968 presidential campaign would free him to solidify his legacy




 



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