To: DMaA who wrote (11976 ) 3/23/1998 3:21:00 PM From: Janice Shell Read Replies (1) | Respond to
You're right. He was impeached, but not convicted. From the Britannica:Johnson opposed this [Congressional] plan [the main features of which were the restoration of military control, the enfranchisement of negroes and the disfranchisement of considerable numbers of ex-Confederates] with all the power he possessed, regarding it as dangerous to the Federal system of government. His opposition was vain but troublesome to the leaders of the radical movement. They therefore determined to deprive the President of practically all power. To this end Congress passed on March 2, 1867, over the President's veto, the Tenure of Office act, prohibiting the President from dismissing from office, unless the Senate should agree, any officer appointed by and with the consent of that body. For a long time Edwin M. Stanton, the secretary of war, had been disloyal to his cheif and in league with his enemies. To rid himself of his obnoxious war minister and at the same time test before the Supreme Court the constitutionality of the Tenure of Office act, Johnson removed Stanton without obtaining the consent of the Senate. His plan for bringing the case before the Supreme Court, however, miscarried. Whereupon the House of Representatives brought articles of impeachment against the President, the only important charge being his violation of the Tenure of Office act. The evidence was entirely inadequate for convicting him on the graver charge befrore any fair-minded and impartial tribunal. The Senate at theat time, however, was extremely partisan, and Johnson escaped conviction by only one vote (35 to 19; a two-thirds majority was necessary for conviction) on May 16, 1868. The remainder of Johnson's term as President was comparatively quiet and uneventful...
