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their punitive rule of the defeated south. The Radical Republicans pulled out all the stops in the following year's mid-term elections, viciously attacking President Johnson's reconstruction intentions. They were successful. The newly elected congress returned with a two-thirds Republican majority.

Thus began a power struggle between the President and his Radical Republican enemies in the Congress. In March of 1867, Congress passed a radical and punitive southern Reconstruction Act. Adding insult to injury, over presidential veto, Congress passed a "Tenure of Office Act" forbidding the President to dismiss certain political office holders who were originally confirmed by the Senate.

Johnson believed the Tenure of Office Act was an unconstitutional infringement on the executive privilege. He decided to fire Lincoln's Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton. The senate, citing the new law, voted against removal of Stanton. Johnson nevertheless demanded Stanton's resignation, but Stanton held out when he heard of impending impeachment proceedings against the president.

As stated previously, Andrew Johnson was not a personable and sympathetic character. As president, he was stubborn and imperious and lacked the will and ability to compromise with his enemies. His harsh and vindictive treatment by the Congress nevertheless won him some sympathy with the public. He was spared the disgrace of being thrown out of office by a single vote.

Johnson served out the remainder of his term as a do-nothing lame duck. He failed to win the Democratic nomination in the 1870 presidential election, but returned to the U.S. Senate in 1874. Johnson held his U.S. Senate seat for just one session. He died of a stroke in 1875.As a footnote to Johnson's impeachment, the "Tenure of Office Act" was never declared unconstitutional. At the urging of a succession of U.S. Presidents, Congress finally repealed the act in 1887 during Grover Cleveland's presidency.

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