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kessler21's review
3.0
A thorough examination of Johnson's Presidency, Impeachment, back-room dealings, and all the players involved. I was surprised to learn that Johnson was the only Senator from a succeeded state to stay loyal to the Union.
With Johnson undermining Lincoln's reconstruction plan, practically subjecting former slaves back into slavery, and disallow any reparations, the House of Representatives sought any and every means to make Johnson the first President to be impeached.
My biggest surprise was seeing Seward support of Johnson and his lenient plan of reconstruction.
I know this book focused on Johnson's impeachment and his relationship with congress, I would have liked more of an overview of his life after his Presidency as well as covering the purchase of Alaska.
With Johnson undermining Lincoln's reconstruction plan, practically subjecting former slaves back into slavery, and disallow any reparations, the House of Representatives sought any and every means to make Johnson the first President to be impeached.
My biggest surprise was seeing Seward support of Johnson and his lenient plan of reconstruction.
I know this book focused on Johnson's impeachment and his relationship with congress, I would have liked more of an overview of his life after his Presidency as well as covering the purchase of Alaska.
jimbowen0306's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not going to lie, this book infuriated me. Not by how it was written, but by its content.
This book covers the run up to the first, and potentially the most successful (depending on how you view the Nixon travails), presidential impeachment attempt. Andrew Johnson was elected as Abe Lincoln's Vice-President. He was a Democrat, to Lincoln's Republican (he and Lincoln were elected as a Union ticket). Lincoln selected him as a sort of fusion candidate, who might appeal to Southern Democrats after the Civil War. On Lincoln's assassination, Johnson became President.
The book was infuriating, because Lincoln picked the wrong guy to be his Vice-President. Johnson was pro-union, but once the union was saved, he reverted to being a racist Southern Democrat. Don't get me wrong, Northern Republicans had issues (only 5 states allowed African Americans the vote), but there are degrees of bigotry, and Johnson was further along the racist spectrum than most Republicans believed, when they selected him as Vice-President.
This said, Johnson doubled down once he became President. Stewart cherry picks examples of how Johnson moved from Unionist to Racist, and explained them well. He also explained the trial very well, and looked at the contributory factors thoroughly. As a consequence the book is a good read.
The one criticism I'd have is that the in conclusion. Stewart said Johnson should have been found guilty. He goes on to disagree with those who suggest that once an impeachment had been successful, it'd be hard to stop trying to remove future Presidents that Congress had distaste for.
This book was written pre-President Trump's impeachments. Given we've had 4 attempted impeachments in 40 years, it's hard to argue had Congress hasn't gotten a taste for the impeachment process now.
This book covers the run up to the first, and potentially the most successful (depending on how you view the Nixon travails), presidential impeachment attempt. Andrew Johnson was elected as Abe Lincoln's Vice-President. He was a Democrat, to Lincoln's Republican (he and Lincoln were elected as a Union ticket). Lincoln selected him as a sort of fusion candidate, who might appeal to Southern Democrats after the Civil War. On Lincoln's assassination, Johnson became President.
The book was infuriating, because Lincoln picked the wrong guy to be his Vice-President. Johnson was pro-union, but once the union was saved, he reverted to being a racist Southern Democrat. Don't get me wrong, Northern Republicans had issues (only 5 states allowed African Americans the vote), but there are degrees of bigotry, and Johnson was further along the racist spectrum than most Republicans believed, when they selected him as Vice-President.
This said, Johnson doubled down once he became President. Stewart cherry picks examples of how Johnson moved from Unionist to Racist, and explained them well. He also explained the trial very well, and looked at the contributory factors thoroughly. As a consequence the book is a good read.
The one criticism I'd have is that the in conclusion. Stewart said Johnson should have been found guilty. He goes on to disagree with those who suggest that once an impeachment had been successful, it'd be hard to stop trying to remove future Presidents that Congress had distaste for.
This book was written pre-President Trump's impeachments. Given we've had 4 attempted impeachments in 40 years, it's hard to argue had Congress hasn't gotten a taste for the impeachment process now.
bryan8063's review
3.0
Stewart's book on Johnson's impeachment is very engaging. What is unique is that he suggests that there was bribery involved in buying votes to save Johnson. It would not be a novel concept in this period as we move into the Gilded Age, but Stewart doesn't have enough evidence for this claim. We may never have it.
I like the fact that Stewart highlights the idea that Johnson's presidency was assertive, much like Lincoln, and this would change as power shifted to Congress. It's underappreciated.
The impeachment of Johnson is far from settled, and Stewart's book is one of many (like [a:Michael Les Benedict|92924|Michael Les Benedict|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], [a:Hans Trefousse|4207838|Hans Trefousse|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], and [a:Paul Bergeron|6577691|Paul Bergeron|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]) that you can read.
I like the fact that Stewart highlights the idea that Johnson's presidency was assertive, much like Lincoln, and this would change as power shifted to Congress. It's underappreciated.
The impeachment of Johnson is far from settled, and Stewart's book is one of many (like [a:Michael Les Benedict|92924|Michael Les Benedict|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], [a:Hans Trefousse|4207838|Hans Trefousse|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png], and [a:Paul Bergeron|6577691|Paul Bergeron|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]) that you can read.
spinnerroweok's review
3.0
If you think politics is corrupt today, you should check this out and see how bad it was in the past. Here, president Andrew Johnson, possibly the worst president ever, makes himself so disagreeable that the Congress passes a law designed to get him to violate it so they can impeach him. What follows is a tale of bribery and political shenanigans to make your stomach turn.
The book starts out quite enjoyable, but becomes so filled with characters that it is hard to follow in the end. However, this is the best explanation of Andrew Johnson's impeachment that I have read so far. It steps away from the mythologizing of the procedure and gets down into the backroom deals.
If you want to be disturbed by the inner workings of government, I recommend.
The book starts out quite enjoyable, but becomes so filled with characters that it is hard to follow in the end. However, this is the best explanation of Andrew Johnson's impeachment that I have read so far. It steps away from the mythologizing of the procedure and gets down into the backroom deals.
If you want to be disturbed by the inner workings of government, I recommend.
grimhand's review against another edition
5.0
Riveting story of the impeachment and trial of President Andrew Johnson - highly recommended read, especially in light of the current (2020) American political situation.
heregrim's review
4.0
Although focusing on the Impeachment of Johnson it was a very good tying together of the situations, personalities and politics that keep and impeach a president. After reading this book I have a much better understanding of the process, and why the impeachment of Trump went the way that it did.