Andrew Johnson: Worst President or Victim of Circumstance?

My turn for Devil's advocate

Published on March 11, 2005 By NJforever In History

Andrew Johnson is often considered the worst president ever. On top of being impeached, some are against his veto of various Civil Rights bills. While not going so far as to say he was good, I don't think Johnson is deserving of the title "Worst President Ever."

Johnson attempted very hard to continue the lenient terms of Reconstruction started by Abraham Lincoln. His plan was given very little chance, though, as the Radical Republican-controlled Congress wouldn't let him. Despite his best efforts to stop them, Congress placed the South under military rule and enacted harsh terms for Reconstruction.

Of course, the South did some things before having all power revoked. One of these things was the Black Codes, which severely restricted the rights of former slaves. To combat this, Congress put forth various Civil Rights bills. Johnson vetoed many of them. But his vetos were not born of racism, as is commonly thought, but of insistence that it remain a states issue. Also, this is where he chose to take his stand against the Radicals' harsh Reconstruction. Not the best place to do so, but at least he did it.

And, of course, most people assume he was awful because of him being impeached. But this was mostly a setup by the Radical Congress. Overriding Johnson's veto, they passed the Tenure of Office Act, which required Congressional approval of dismissals in the Cabinet. When Johnson attempted to fire outspoken Radical Secretary of War Stanton, he was impeached by Congress. Certainly didn't make it any easier for himself, but just as certainly not all his fault.

As a president, Johnson was not very good, mid to low thirties, really. But he is certainly not deserving of Worst President Ever. He really just had the unfortunate coincidence of being a moderate in a time of Radicals. Ironically, the Radicals enacted Radical Reconstruction to stop the South from being a Democrat powerbase. Not only did their form of Reconstruction cause this, it also led to the formation of the Ku Klux Klan.

So, after reading this, what do you say? Andrew Johnson: Worst President Ever or Victim of Circumstance?

Comments

TheFazz

on Mar 11, 2005

He certainly could have done worse. 'Victim of circumstance' is a bit too general of a term, and really can apply to anyone. You can pretty much say that anyone was a victim of circumstance.

NJforever

on Mar 11, 2005

He certainly could have done worse. 'Victim of circumstance' is a bit too general of a term, and really can apply to anyone. You can pretty much say that anyone was a victim of circumstance.

Yes, probably. Victim of others' powers, perhaps?

Dr Guy

on Mar 14, 2005

I always kind of admired him for trying to carry on what Lincoln started. It is a good thing that he was not convicted of impeachment as the act was later found to be unconstitutional, and that would have been a travesty.

I dont think he was a great president, altho with a less antagonistic congress he could have been, but he was far from bad. I put him in the high 20s.

NJforever

on Mar 14, 2005

It certainly would have. And we can thank 7 Republican Senators who did not find the charges adequate for the movement's failure.

I dont think he was a great president, altho with a less antagonistic congress he could have been, but he was far from bad. I put him in the high 20s.

He certainly would have been better if his presidency hadn't been consumed by battling Congress. Perhaps high 20's, there certainly were a few presidents worse than him with a perfectly friendly Congress.

Gideon MacLeish

on Mar 14, 2005

Johnson was more a victim of the times than anything. My personal vote for worst president ever is Abraham Lincoln. He recklessly disregarded the Constitution for the preservation of the union. Amazing what a little spin can do, though, eh?

NJforever

on Mar 14, 2005

I don't know about Lincoln being the worst...perhaps he went a little to the extreme in doing things in the name of preserving the Union. I wouldn't be lying if I said that the Congress initially tried to reduce the power of Johnson to get presidential power back to normal after Lincoln, then went too far.

Dr Guy

on Mar 14, 2005

don't know about Lincoln being the worst...perhaps he went a little to the extreme in doing things in the name of preserving the Union. I wouldn't be lying if I said that the Congress initially tried to reduce the power of Johnson to get presidential power back to normal after Lincoln, then went too far.

It is a rare president, in time of war, that does not somehow amass more power to the presidency that the constitution granted the position. FDR did it as well, but Wilson was more restrained, probably due to the fact that with all the hyperbole, we were not directly threatened in WWI.

However, in all honesty, the 3 wars that have hit Amerian Soil directly (since 1812 when the nation was yet young) all saw a consolidation of power to the Executive. Due to an antagonistic congress, as you correctly point out, that power was sucked back and then some after the Civil war. I did not see the same retreat after WWII, nor do I see it happening this time either.

NJforever

on Mar 14, 2005

I did not see the same retreat after WWII, nor do I see it happening this time either.

I hope we reduce presidential authority soon, because if an executive holds too much power, he really just becomes a dictator.

Dr Guy

on Mar 14, 2005

I hope we reduce presidential authority soon, because if an executive holds too much power, he really just becomes a dictator.

An elected one, but yes, it is scary. I dont care if it is my candidate or not. Our founding fathers were wise to set up a 3 pronged system. Let not one gain power over the others, or we will lose control of our government.

Wait! We already have! Ousting a clown is a rare occasion, but at least it still happens on occassion.

I look forward to your future profiles of presidents.

NJforever

on Mar 14, 2005

An elected one, but yes, it is scary. I dont care if it is my candidate or not.

Neither do I. I don't care who is the dictator, I don't want one.

Our founding fathers were wise to set up a 3 pronged system. Let not one gain power over the others, or we will lose control of our government.

Yes, they were. Sometimes people forget that we gave power to all 3 for a reason.

I look forward to your future profiles of presidents.

Thanks. I was convinced my series was doomed to one reader throughout its existence. I'm about to write the one on Jefferson. As a self-proclaimed Jeffersonian, you should enjoy, yes?

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