FEBRUARY 24

On this date in 1868, Andrew Johnson became the first President of the United States to be impeached by the House of Representatives.  He was acquitted in the Senate. 

Johnson, as the vice-president, had taken office when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated.  He was a Senator from Tennessee, and when the Civil War began, refused to resign even though his State had succeeded from the union.  When Lincoln ran for a second term after the Civil War, Johnson was his choice for VP.

Andrew Johnson was impeached because he fired the Secretary of War.  The House considered this a violation of the Tenure of Office Act.  They added a bunch of other charges which amounted to "he wasn't doing what the Congress wanted."  An interesting note, Johnson, at the time of his impeachment, had not named a Vice-President to serve with him.  Had he been removed from office, the Speaker of the House would have become President.

152 years ago today.  Sometimes it seems that the more things change, the more they stay the same.
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