ANDREW JOHNSON | 1865-1869 With the assassination of Lincoln,
the presidency fell upon an old-fashioned southern Democrat of
pronounced states' rights views. Although an honest and
honorable man, Andrew Johnson was one of the most unfortunate of
presidents. Arrayed against him were the Radical Republicans in
Congress, brilliantly led and ruthless in their tactics. Johnson
was no match for them. Born in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1808,
Johnson grew up in poverty. He was apprenticed to a tailor as a
boy, but ran away. He opened a tailor shop in Greeneville,
Tennessee, married Eliza McCardle, and participated in debates
at the local academy. Entering politics, he became an adept
stump speaker, championing the common man and vilifying the
plantation aristocracy. As a member of the House of
Representatives and the Senate in the 1840s and '50s, he
advocated a homestead bill to provide a free farm for the poor
man. During the secession crisis, Johnson remained in the Senate
even when Tennessee seceded, which made h