Track 1 Analytical Essay #2: Andrew Johnson

Although the Tenure of Office Act that got Andrew Johnson impeached was unconstitutional, this does not mean that he did not deserve to get impeached. Johnson was not a good president because he let personal issues of revenge on aristocrats and viewpoints of slavery blind him. Johnson would also have a stubborn personality that did not aid him in his path for reconstruction against the radical republicans. He would let feelings get in the way of his reason that made him the only president to be forced out of office due to breaking a law that he knowingly deified and would end in his demise igniting “ridicule” by the American people (H.A. Tompkins).

Johnson did not do well as president because first he let personal matters and viewpoints affect his legislation for reconstruction instead of working with Congress to find a workable solution. When Andrew Johnson was young, his family was poor and the wealthy aristocrats tortured him and his friends, so “anger was directed at the Southern aristocrats, not the entire South, and he sought to transfer political power in the region from the planters to Unionist yeoman farmers and mechanics” (Miller 143). Johnson let this vengeance of destroying aristocrats get in the way of solving how to get the South back into the union by working with Republicans, because he was a “plebeian” and wasted time attempting to fulfill revenge that would fail in the end (ibid.). Johnson’s outlook on slavery also affected the way his plan for reconstruction would get through by being “an uncompromising racist” and “insist[ing] that the blacks did not deserve citizenship [,]” which shocked moderates [so much that they] voted with the radicals to override the presidential veto[,]… [and they also] refused to acc...

... middle of paper ...

...and should care to stay in power to benefit the people (H.A. Tompkins). Johnson did not do these, so he is worthy of receiving contempt and impeachment.

H.A. Tompkins is incorrect about Johnson because he was a bad president, no matter the time, or congressman in charge. Johnson let his personal vendetta against aristocrats and view of African Americans cloud his judgment. Also he did not work with moderates even though they desired to work with him, which would have given him more support in Congress. Plus he knowingly got himself impeached and did not care. A President should put the country before himself and the presidency also requires him to provide stability of the Government. Johnson could not do this; therefore he is a scorned President.

Works Cited

Miller, Nathan. Star-spangled Men: America's Ten Worst Presidents. New York, NY: Scribner, 1998. Print.