Andrew Johnson Quotes

A collection of quotes by Andrew Johnson.

Andrew Johnson was the 17th President of the United States, serving from 1865 to 1869. He was born on December 29, 1808, in Raleigh, North Carolina. Initially apprenticed to a tailor, Johnson later ventured into politics and became a member of the Tennessee House of Representatives, serving from 1835 to 1837 and again from 1839 to 1853. He went on to serve as the Governor of Tennessee from 1853 to 1857 and as a U.S. Senator from 1857 to 1862.

Following Abraham Lincoln's assassination in 1865, Johnson assumed the presidency. As President, he faced significant challenges due to the post-Civil War era. He advocated for generous terms for Confederate states to rejoin the Union, which led to conflicts with the Radical Republicans in Congress. His Reconstruction policies were seen as lenient by some and brought him into conflict with Congress, especially regarding the rights of newly freed African Americans.

Johnson was the first U.S. president to be impeached by the House of Representatives in 1868, narrowly avoiding removal from office by the Senate. Despite his impeachment, he completed his term as president and then retired to Tennessee, where he remained active in politics until his death on July 31, 1875. Andrew Johnson's presidency remains a topic of historical debate, with opinions ranging from criticism to support for his policies during a turbulent period in U.S. history.