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(December 28, 1808 - July 31, 1875)
 * __Andrew Johnson__**

Political Party: Democrat, Unionist

Terms of Office: April 15, 1865 – March 4, 1869 (one term)

Vice President: None

Andrew Johnson became president by chance. After fighting its bloodiest war in history, America was struck with another tremendous loss. Abraham Lincoln, the man who brought the nation through the bloody conflict, had been assassinated. So it passed that Johnson claimed the presidency, after previously being Lincoln's vice president. It was perhaps the worst possible time for Andrew Johnson to have taken command. This country was faced with the difficult ordeal of Reconstruction, and Johnson demonstrated that he was not the right man to lead it. He deserves the grade of a D because of his negative impact on the Reconstruction process, which dominated his entire presidency. This includes his conspicuous racism toward the african americans, veto of a number of proposed laws, and attempt to do the job alone.

There really was only one goal that Johnson had when he entered office. It was to restore the Union as quickly as possible. Understand that Johnson's task was not easy in any shape or form. It would have taken outstanding leadership from any man to bring the country back together successfully. Unfortunately, Johnson did not posess this fundamental characteristic. Upon inauguration, Johnson had almost complete conrtol of the Reconstruction process, as Congress was not in session. In fact, it did not reconvene until December of the same year. With time being of importance, Johnson rushed to implement his own policies. He required the seceded states to hold special conventions to renounce secession and abolish slavery. Note that he did not request black suffrage as a condition of readmission. He also required them to make oaths of allegiance to the Union. As the Johnson reconstruction plan progressed, some states imposed "Black Codes", severely limiting the freedom of former slaves. Johnson did not oppose these laws and his dislike of the blacks was clearly shown. Johnson managed to make his moves. Congress would make the next one.

It might not be possible to name another president who had a worse relationship with Congress than Andrew Johnson. When the Republican dominated Congress reconvened in December, it set out to gain its own control of Reconstruction and to push Johnson out of the picture. It was a battle of the sort which one can only imagine today. Among the first decisions it made, Congress established a Joint Committee of Reconstruction to examine Johnson's policies and voted not to recognize the newly reestablished state governments as valid. The Republicans then attempted to extend the Freedmen's Bureau in February of 1866, a form of welfare created for the blacks in opposition to the Black Codes. Johnson vetoed this bill. Next, Congress proposed the Civil Rights Act. It gave citizenship, along with civil rights, to the blacks. Johnson used his veto again. However, Congress established a precedent by overriding the veto and passing the legislation anyways. It was the first time that Congress had overruled a president on an important bill. Later, Congress passed the 14th Amendment on June 16, 1866. This addition to the Constitution defined national citizenship and made a noble effort to implement black suffrage into society. Johnson attempted to block its passage but could not. When the Congressional Elections of 1866 rolled around, the Republicans won two-thirds majority of both houses and took full control of Reconstruction. Johnson was powerless.

In all of this mess, there were positive decisions made by Johnson. These came from foreign affairs. The purchase of Alaska was undoubtedly the best move Johnson ever made as President. Bought from Russia in 1867, the territory was thought by critics to be a frozen wasteland. In reality, Alaska turned out to be a land rich with resources including oil and fish. Also, Russia had been the nation's only friend during the Civil War. To turn down such an offer would have been a mistake. Johnson played the cards right in that game.

Johnson's most negative decision can not be limited to one thing. Instead, it consists of Johnson's clash with Congress and his repeated efforts to veto all legislation the Republicans passed. It also had the most influence on future generations. Johnson was not a man to bring compromise to the table. He unsuccessfully vetoed the Freedmen's Bureau Bill, Civil Rights Act, and the Reconstruction Act of 1867 which divided the Southern states into five military districts. These actions and his opposition to the 14th Amendment display how Johnson was a blatant racist. His strong committment to obscuring political and civil rights of blacks is in large part responsible for the failure to solve the race problem in the south. Johnson should have attempted to reason with Congress. He was blinded by racism and made Reconstruction even more difficult. An unhealthy relationship with the creators of the law does not improve a president's chance for success. Undoubtedly, Johnson's stand against Congress heavily impacted future generations. His inability to make compromise gave Congress the power to set national policy for the next thirty-five years. Presidential authority had been trampled on.

Andrew Johnson was the wrong man, in the wrong place, and at the wrong time. This Democrat simply did not belong in a government that was largely Republican. It was terrible luck that lifted Johnson into the presidency. Near the end of his short career, Johnson was the first president to be impeached. Congress actually attempted to impeach him twice. With the second attempt, Johnson was saved from conviction by one vote. He had been charged with violation of the Tenure of Office Act. Johnson had dismissed the Secretary of War, who was being protected by the Act. Once again, Johnson tried to challenge Congress, even though he understood that he could be impeached. In a time when a true leader was needed, Andrew Johnson was an extreme disappointment. He went about Reconstruction alone and that cost him dearly. Strangely, America was better off after his term than before it. Quite a paradox of American history. Thanks to Johnson, Reconstruction was on its way. Though he did nothing to make it easier, the fact is that Reconstruction had been started and eventually it would end. It makes perfect sense then to give Andrew Johnson a D. Not an entire failure, and never perfect, he was truly a misfit.

Bibliography:

"Alaska Purchase." //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. Web. 03 Nov. 2009. .

"American President: Andrew Johnson." //Miller Center of Public Affairs//. Web. 03 Nov. 2009. .

"Andrew Johnson." //The White House//. Web. 03 Nov. 2009. . "Andrew Johnson." //Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia//. Web. 03 Nov. 2009. [].