The Andrew Johnson National Historic Site: A Reflection
Starting a blog dedicated to the appreciation of history is a liberating experience. When you consider the many historical sites across the United States and around the world, there are countless locations that can serve as the inspiration for the inaugural post. There are major ones that served as the location of an important battle, crucial discovery, or consequential decision, but there are also the local ones that receive only a handful of visitors a year. The innumerable individuals whose impact on history ranges from peasant farmer to general, scientist, astronaut, lawyer, or even a president could rightfully serve as the topic of this post. And speaking of American presidents, there have been 44 of them, and surely the ranks of Washington, Lincoln, Roosevelt (both), or even a Truman would be fascinating to explore. And they will be, just not as my first attempt to share my thoughts in a blog. This post will focus on President Andrew Johnson.
The C-SPAN Presidential Historians Survey evaluates past presidents based on 10 individual leadership characteristics, which are then combined to give an overall ranking. The most recent survey, which occurred in 2017, placed Andrew Johnson second to last, just ahead of James Buchanan with a score of 275 (compared to perennial winner Abraham Lincoln's 906). Johnson has proven to be consistent in his placement, having matched this ranking in both the 2000 and 2009 surveys as well.
Presidential Historians Survey 2017 (C-SPAN)
Buchanan and Johnson's similar ranking is not a coincidence considering their failures bookend the most well regarded President in history. Abraham Lincoln's achievement during the Civil War separates him from other leaders of his generation. If Buchanan is the president who failed to recognize our nation's problems and prevent war, then Johnson is the president who failed to give that war meaning. His battles with the Republicans in Congress and subsequent impeachment secured his spot among the failed presidencies. It might seem odd that he is worthy of our focus for this initial blog. Yet again, when you consider the recent news regarding the removal of Confederate monuments, the resurgence of hate groups, and our national discussion over race and equality, then perhaps there is no better place to start an online history blog.
This post is not intended to be biographical in nature, rather it will serve as a reflection of the Andrew Johnson National Historic Park (administered by the National Park Service) in Greeneville, Tennessee. That park consists of three buildings (a tailor shop, and 2 houses) that were significant to Andrew Johnson's life, along with his burial location, and a visitor center.
Visitor Center and Tailor Shop
Upon entering the visitor center, you will encounter the usual markings of a National Park, such as the ranger handing out park maps from behind the counter, a bookstore, historical memorabilia like pins and hats for sale, as well as an auditorium where an introductory video plays. After paying the proper respect to the touristy aspects of the building, you will turn to enter the presidential museum that has a few small exhibits with artifacts from Andrew Johnson's life. However, these generic and dated interpretive materials cannot compete with what appears from behind the large opening in the adjacent room.
The Achievements and Failures of Andrew Johnson
In the NPS visitor center there is a small room that serves as the presidential museum, with a handful of exhibits covering different aspects of Andrew Johnson's life. It is worth noting that the room is about the size of the nearby bookstore and gift shop. It is plain, and the exhibits seem dated, with artifacts placed in boxy cases next to text heavy interpretational signs. For a president, even a controversial one, you would expect significantly more information on their life and career.
Although Johnson was the first president to be impeached, the exhibit does not exclude some of his administration's accomplishment. The NPS makes sure to emphasize Johnson's pro-Union credentials, as they note that he was the only Southern Senator to return to Washington, DC after their state seceded from the Union. The following year, President Lincoln utilized his unique position as a pro-Union Southerner and appointed him as the military Governor of Tennessee where he would support the army's effort to bring the state back under Union control. This was somewhat familiar territory as Johnson served as the pre-War governor of Tennessee from 1853-1857, however in this appointed role he did not have an election backed mandate. His unlikely support for the Union may have also planted the seed for his ultimate failure as president. Lincoln, wanting to emphasize reconciliation, dropped his original Vice President Hannibal Hamlin, in favor of Johnson during the 1864 election. Johnson's inability to work with the Republican-controlled Congress deteriorated soon after assuming office, following Lincoln's assassination.
However, Johnson's tenure did see some successes. On July 27, 1866, the SS Great Eastern laid the first permanent transatlantic cable, which forever changed the speed of communication between the Old and New World. A piece of the cable that was presented to Andrew Johnson, along with a commemorative medal, are displayed in the museum. Another accomplishment, which was not fully appreciated until the following century, was the purchase of Alaska from the Russia Empire on March 30, 1867. The deal was negotiated by then Secretary of State William Seward for $7.2 million which translates to 2 cents per acre. Eventually, Alaska would become the 49th State and a major energy producer alongside its world renown natural beauty.
On February 24, 1868, Andrew Johnson became the first American president to be impeached by the House of Representatives. The trial was held in the Senate from March until May of that year, and Johnson came within one vote of his removal from office (a two-thirds majority is required for conviction). While political motivation may have been the ultimate cause for his acquittal, a dangerous precedent of removing difficult leaders was avoided. How did relations between Congress and the president break down this low?
One of Johnson's major faults was not realizing that his term as president was not really his. The memory of Lincoln's assassination was raw, and a country that was ravaged by war for four years did not want to see his legacy tarnished. And the Republicans who controlled Congress felt that they had a mandate to enact their agenda. While Johnson deserves high remarks for retaining Lincoln's cabinet, those collegial feelings did not last long. Johnson proceeded to veto legislation after legislation, many which appear in line with Lincoln's positions. For example, Johnson vetoed a follow up to the Freedman's Bureau (a compromise later of another veto was overridden) and the Civil Rights Act (also overridden). He also began to feud with members of the cabinet, in particular, Edwin M. Stanton.
Another piece of legislation, called the Tenure of Office Act, passed through Congress and was met by another presidential veto. The intent of this proposal was to limit a president's ability to remove cabinet officials without congressional support. It was also an attempt to swing the balance of power in Washington, DC, away from an obstructionist White House and towards Congress. With his veto once again overridden, Johnson decided to test the constitutionality of this law by firing Secretary of War Stanton. Stanton resisted and I seem to recall reading at one point he barricaded himself in his office. However, this was the political leverage that congressional Republicans needed to begin impeachment charges.
For his part, Johnson was a Democrat and his confrontation with the Republicans in Congress was also politically motivated. He knew that in order to win election to his own term in 1868 he would need to soften the limits and oversite Congress intended to impose on the South for their treason in the Civil War. And as a Southerner he did not have the metaphorical scars of battle that Lincoln had to extend a hand to former enemies and offer reconciliation. When Johnson acted it was the wrong man with the wrong message. Additionally, his short sighted political ambitions empowered the South who quickly passed Black Codes to enact de facto slavery and prevented the newly freed slaves from becoming full members of society. This ultimately put them on a path of continued oppression, terrorism, and Jim Crow Laws. This is a legacy America is still struggling to understand to this day.
The NPS presidential museum does an adequate job interpreting this story for its visitors. The information is straight forward and all of the key points are discussed. There are even two boxes where you can bring history alive by casting a vote for or against Andrew Johnson in a mock Senate trial. I assume these are tallied at some point and perhaps shared in the park newsletter. However, in the 21st century when we have all sorts of technology available to us, more can be done to acknowledge one of the most important events in American history. Likewise, it would be advantageous to include an exhibit on the legacy of Johnson's uneven approach to Reconstruction, for the above-mentioned reasons. Overall the presidential museum leaves much to be desired. It is light on artifacts and does not employ modern museum thinking in its exhibit layout and construction.
The Homestead
As Andrew Johnson's personal and political fortunes grew so did his home. In the decade preceding the start of the Civil War he built his Homestead, just a few blocks away from his early home in downtown Greeneville. It is within walking distance to the other NPS buildings and with several preserved acres and a working garden, it serves to paint a fuller picture of Andrew Johnson's post-presidential life. While Greeneville has retained much of its small town feel, the introduction of cars and development has put a challenge towards preservation efforts. The home's front door opens just feet from the highly trafficked S. Main Street. It doesn't take much though, to imagine a time before the advent of the automobile when a person's front door opened to the world and would welcome guests arriving by foot or horse into their home.
The Cemetary
In 1875, Andrew Johnson became the only former president to serve in the U.S. Senate. During his swearing in he also encountered several individuals who voted for his conviction during the impeachment trial. However, his return was short lived as he suffered a stroke and died a few months later. He was buried on land he owned in Greeneville originally called "Signal Hill." The site is now one of the nation's national cemeteries (administered by the NPS) and Andrew Johnson is surrounded by soldiers who gave their lives in many of American's foreign wars. One notable detail about Andrew Johnson's funeral is that he requested to be buried wrapped in the United States Flag with a copy of the Constitution under his head.
Final Impressions
This entry was not intended to serve as a comprehensive biography of Andrew Johnson's life. Wikipedia does a fine job providing the basic facts for anyone interested in a starting place to learn more. There are also several scholarly books that take a critical look at Andrew Johnson. Below I list a couple that are worth checking out. I also did not intend to recreate a guide book for the National Park Service. These posts are about appreciating history and trying to understand it more fully. As one of the least admired presidents, Andrew Johnson's life facts are not well known to the general public. And his reputation has virtually no chance of improving in the eyes of Americans. The only way he will rise on C-SPAN's Presidential Historians Survey is if a future president somehow destroys our nation, and even then it is likely only that he would improve by one spot.
Despite his political miscalculations and history's harsh outlook of his record, he is still worth learning about. His actions during one of the most consequential periods of American history needs to be studied by scholars and lay person alike. And while we rightfully condemn his vetoes of the Reconstruction legislation because they stand in contrast to our values of equality, empowerment, and inclusion, there is another reason. We study history because it tells us how we arrived at where we are today. Every event affects successive events and eventually, that arrives at your front door in the form of the present time. If we are careful enough and have enough courage to study history as the people who participated in it knew it, then that is where the real lesson is.
Andrew Johnson gets a few good marks. He had the courage to defend a young nation when his neighbors and colleagues were working to destroy it. Virtually everything else about his views and actions would be abhorrent to our modern values. But doesn't knowing that that record exists provide some comfort that there is a potential lesson to be uncovered someday, somewhere perhaps by a later generation? If we ignore or wash away what we don't like, then we do so to any chance we have from ever learning from it. And that is why I started this blog: to promote the study of history, the appreciation of our historical sites, and engaging topics that are not always easy. In that sense, Andrew Johnson is a very appropriate choice for this first blog.
For Further Reading:
The Presidency of Andrew Johnson, by Albert E. Castel
Andrew Johnson: A Biography, by Hans L. Trefousse
Sources:
NPS Park Map
NPS Andrew Johnson Historic Park website
Andrew Johnson Wikipedia page
The C-SPAN Presidential Historians Survey evaluates past presidents based on 10 individual leadership characteristics, which are then combined to give an overall ranking. The most recent survey, which occurred in 2017, placed Andrew Johnson second to last, just ahead of James Buchanan with a score of 275 (compared to perennial winner Abraham Lincoln's 906). Johnson has proven to be consistent in his placement, having matched this ranking in both the 2000 and 2009 surveys as well.
Presidential Historians Survey 2017 (C-SPAN)
Buchanan and Johnson's similar ranking is not a coincidence considering their failures bookend the most well regarded President in history. Abraham Lincoln's achievement during the Civil War separates him from other leaders of his generation. If Buchanan is the president who failed to recognize our nation's problems and prevent war, then Johnson is the president who failed to give that war meaning. His battles with the Republicans in Congress and subsequent impeachment secured his spot among the failed presidencies. It might seem odd that he is worthy of our focus for this initial blog. Yet again, when you consider the recent news regarding the removal of Confederate monuments, the resurgence of hate groups, and our national discussion over race and equality, then perhaps there is no better place to start an online history blog.
This post is not intended to be biographical in nature, rather it will serve as a reflection of the Andrew Johnson National Historic Park (administered by the National Park Service) in Greeneville, Tennessee. That park consists of three buildings (a tailor shop, and 2 houses) that were significant to Andrew Johnson's life, along with his burial location, and a visitor center.
Visitor Center and Tailor Shop
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| First view of the Andrew Johnson Historic Site Visitor Center from across N. College Street (Greeneville, TN) |
Upon entering the visitor center, you will encounter the usual markings of a National Park, such as the ranger handing out park maps from behind the counter, a bookstore, historical memorabilia like pins and hats for sale, as well as an auditorium where an introductory video plays. After paying the proper respect to the touristy aspects of the building, you will turn to enter the presidential museum that has a few small exhibits with artifacts from Andrew Johnson's life. However, these generic and dated interpretive materials cannot compete with what appears from behind the large opening in the adjacent room.
Born poor in North Carolina and apprenticed at a young age, Andrew Johnson ran away from home. After settling in Greeneville, he established a tailoring business which grew and eventually became prosperous. His Tailor Shop was later preserved and in 1923 a memorial building, which is connected to the NPS visitor center, was constructed to enclose it. This building is a reminder that Johnson was not born into wealth and although he later exuded a passion for learning, had no formal education himself. His political rise started in this simple building, where whatever successes he earned would come at his own two hands.
Across the street from the visitor center on the corner of E. Depot Street is what is referred to as the Early Home and serves to give a fuller picture of Andrew Johnson's life in Greeneville. Today it is not furnished as the home that Johnson would have known, rather it is set up as a walk through museum. There is an exhibit on his family members, as well as the slaves that Johnson owned. Additionally, the NPS placed a timeline of significant national events in addition to a timeline of Andrew Johnson's professional life. In the last room, there is more information regarding historical renovations, specifically regarding this building.
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| The Early Home |
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| A view of the basement |
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| The fireplace |
In order to give a more complete view of Andrew Johnson's life, the National Park Service installed a replica of the home he was born in, which originally was located in Raleigh, North Carolina. This small building speaks to the humble beginnings of the 17th president. Resembling more a modern shed than a home, the wooden structure consists of one room downstairs and a loft upstairs that is not accessible. It can be traversed in a matter of seconds, but it is worth taking the time to observe the kitchen setup that provides a greater insight into life in the early 19th century.
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| Replica of Andrew Johnson's Birthplace |
In the NPS visitor center there is a small room that serves as the presidential museum, with a handful of exhibits covering different aspects of Andrew Johnson's life. It is worth noting that the room is about the size of the nearby bookstore and gift shop. It is plain, and the exhibits seem dated, with artifacts placed in boxy cases next to text heavy interpretational signs. For a president, even a controversial one, you would expect significantly more information on their life and career.
Although Johnson was the first president to be impeached, the exhibit does not exclude some of his administration's accomplishment. The NPS makes sure to emphasize Johnson's pro-Union credentials, as they note that he was the only Southern Senator to return to Washington, DC after their state seceded from the Union. The following year, President Lincoln utilized his unique position as a pro-Union Southerner and appointed him as the military Governor of Tennessee where he would support the army's effort to bring the state back under Union control. This was somewhat familiar territory as Johnson served as the pre-War governor of Tennessee from 1853-1857, however in this appointed role he did not have an election backed mandate. His unlikely support for the Union may have also planted the seed for his ultimate failure as president. Lincoln, wanting to emphasize reconciliation, dropped his original Vice President Hannibal Hamlin, in favor of Johnson during the 1864 election. Johnson's inability to work with the Republican-controlled Congress deteriorated soon after assuming office, following Lincoln's assassination.
However, Johnson's tenure did see some successes. On July 27, 1866, the SS Great Eastern laid the first permanent transatlantic cable, which forever changed the speed of communication between the Old and New World. A piece of the cable that was presented to Andrew Johnson, along with a commemorative medal, are displayed in the museum. Another accomplishment, which was not fully appreciated until the following century, was the purchase of Alaska from the Russia Empire on March 30, 1867. The deal was negotiated by then Secretary of State William Seward for $7.2 million which translates to 2 cents per acre. Eventually, Alaska would become the 49th State and a major energy producer alongside its world renown natural beauty.
On February 24, 1868, Andrew Johnson became the first American president to be impeached by the House of Representatives. The trial was held in the Senate from March until May of that year, and Johnson came within one vote of his removal from office (a two-thirds majority is required for conviction). While political motivation may have been the ultimate cause for his acquittal, a dangerous precedent of removing difficult leaders was avoided. How did relations between Congress and the president break down this low?
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| Tickets were issued to witness Andrew Johnson's Impeachment Trial. |
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Despite lacking a formal education, Andrew Johnson was committed to lifelong learning. |
Another piece of legislation, called the Tenure of Office Act, passed through Congress and was met by another presidential veto. The intent of this proposal was to limit a president's ability to remove cabinet officials without congressional support. It was also an attempt to swing the balance of power in Washington, DC, away from an obstructionist White House and towards Congress. With his veto once again overridden, Johnson decided to test the constitutionality of this law by firing Secretary of War Stanton. Stanton resisted and I seem to recall reading at one point he barricaded himself in his office. However, this was the political leverage that congressional Republicans needed to begin impeachment charges.
For his part, Johnson was a Democrat and his confrontation with the Republicans in Congress was also politically motivated. He knew that in order to win election to his own term in 1868 he would need to soften the limits and oversite Congress intended to impose on the South for their treason in the Civil War. And as a Southerner he did not have the metaphorical scars of battle that Lincoln had to extend a hand to former enemies and offer reconciliation. When Johnson acted it was the wrong man with the wrong message. Additionally, his short sighted political ambitions empowered the South who quickly passed Black Codes to enact de facto slavery and prevented the newly freed slaves from becoming full members of society. This ultimately put them on a path of continued oppression, terrorism, and Jim Crow Laws. This is a legacy America is still struggling to understand to this day.
The NPS presidential museum does an adequate job interpreting this story for its visitors. The information is straight forward and all of the key points are discussed. There are even two boxes where you can bring history alive by casting a vote for or against Andrew Johnson in a mock Senate trial. I assume these are tallied at some point and perhaps shared in the park newsletter. However, in the 21st century when we have all sorts of technology available to us, more can be done to acknowledge one of the most important events in American history. Likewise, it would be advantageous to include an exhibit on the legacy of Johnson's uneven approach to Reconstruction, for the above-mentioned reasons. Overall the presidential museum leaves much to be desired. It is light on artifacts and does not employ modern museum thinking in its exhibit layout and construction.
 |
| Andrew Johnson Statue. What can we learn from this? |
As Andrew Johnson's personal and political fortunes grew so did his home. In the decade preceding the start of the Civil War he built his Homestead, just a few blocks away from his early home in downtown Greeneville. It is within walking distance to the other NPS buildings and with several preserved acres and a working garden, it serves to paint a fuller picture of Andrew Johnson's post-presidential life. While Greeneville has retained much of its small town feel, the introduction of cars and development has put a challenge towards preservation efforts. The home's front door opens just feet from the highly trafficked S. Main Street. It doesn't take much though, to imagine a time before the advent of the automobile when a person's front door opened to the world and would welcome guests arriving by foot or horse into their home.
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| Andrew Johnson's Homestead (1851-1875). |
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| Andrew Johnson Homestead marker |
The Cemetary
In 1875, Andrew Johnson became the only former president to serve in the U.S. Senate. During his swearing in he also encountered several individuals who voted for his conviction during the impeachment trial. However, his return was short lived as he suffered a stroke and died a few months later. He was buried on land he owned in Greeneville originally called "Signal Hill." The site is now one of the nation's national cemeteries (administered by the NPS) and Andrew Johnson is surrounded by soldiers who gave their lives in many of American's foreign wars. One notable detail about Andrew Johnson's funeral is that he requested to be buried wrapped in the United States Flag with a copy of the Constitution under his head.
 |
| Andrew Johnson's Grave. |
This entry was not intended to serve as a comprehensive biography of Andrew Johnson's life. Wikipedia does a fine job providing the basic facts for anyone interested in a starting place to learn more. There are also several scholarly books that take a critical look at Andrew Johnson. Below I list a couple that are worth checking out. I also did not intend to recreate a guide book for the National Park Service. These posts are about appreciating history and trying to understand it more fully. As one of the least admired presidents, Andrew Johnson's life facts are not well known to the general public. And his reputation has virtually no chance of improving in the eyes of Americans. The only way he will rise on C-SPAN's Presidential Historians Survey is if a future president somehow destroys our nation, and even then it is likely only that he would improve by one spot.
Despite his political miscalculations and history's harsh outlook of his record, he is still worth learning about. His actions during one of the most consequential periods of American history needs to be studied by scholars and lay person alike. And while we rightfully condemn his vetoes of the Reconstruction legislation because they stand in contrast to our values of equality, empowerment, and inclusion, there is another reason. We study history because it tells us how we arrived at where we are today. Every event affects successive events and eventually, that arrives at your front door in the form of the present time. If we are careful enough and have enough courage to study history as the people who participated in it knew it, then that is where the real lesson is.
Andrew Johnson gets a few good marks. He had the courage to defend a young nation when his neighbors and colleagues were working to destroy it. Virtually everything else about his views and actions would be abhorrent to our modern values. But doesn't knowing that that record exists provide some comfort that there is a potential lesson to be uncovered someday, somewhere perhaps by a later generation? If we ignore or wash away what we don't like, then we do so to any chance we have from ever learning from it. And that is why I started this blog: to promote the study of history, the appreciation of our historical sites, and engaging topics that are not always easy. In that sense, Andrew Johnson is a very appropriate choice for this first blog.
For Further Reading:
The Presidency of Andrew Johnson, by Albert E. Castel
Andrew Johnson: A Biography, by Hans L. Trefousse
Sources:
NPS Park Map
NPS Andrew Johnson Historic Park website
Andrew Johnson Wikipedia page
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