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===Andrew Johnson (1868)===

===Andrew Johnson (1868)===

After the [[Civil War]], although the fighting had ended, the country remained deeply divided with emotions running high. The big questions remained over empowering recently freed slaves and what to do with those who had engaged in open rebellion against the United States.  President [[Andrew Johnson]], a Democrat elected vice president in 1864 at the height of the war on a national unity ticket with Republican [[Abraham Lincoln]], was in conflict with [[Radical Republicans]] who controlled Congress.  The [[media]] called these Republicans "radical" because the advocated full equality and [[civil rights]] for [[blacks]], and wanted to punish Southern slaveholders and Confederate soldiers who engaged in open rebellion.  Johnson handed out numerous pardons to former slaveholders, Confederate officers, and soldier.  This brought him into conflict with the [[Secretary of War]], who was approved by the Senate, vowing to carrying the Republicans civil rights reforms for Blacks in occupied military districts of [[the South]] when the war was over.

After the [[Civil War]], although the fighting had ended, the country remained deeply divided with emotions running high. The big questions remained over empowering recently freed slaves and what to do with those who had engaged in rebellion against the United States.  President [[Andrew Johnson]], a Democrat elected vice president in 1864 at the height of the war on a national unity ticket with Republican [[Abraham Lincoln]], was in conflict with the [[Radical Republicans]] who controlled Congress.  The [[media]] called them Republicans "radical" because the advocated full equality and [[civil rights]] for [[blacks]], and wanted to punish Southern slaveholders and Confederate soldiers who engaged in open rebellion.  Johnson handed out numerous pardons to former slaveholders, Confederate officers, and the rank and file.  This brought him into conflict with the [[Secretary of War]], who was approved by the Senate, vowing to carrying the Republicans civil rights reforms for Blacks in occupied military districts of [[the South]] when the war was over.

President Johnson vetoed Republican civil rights legislation and even called their leaders "traitors". Flush from winning the war, Republican Rep. Thaddeus Stevens (PA) and Sen. Charles Sumner (MA) were not about to back down. Sumner in 1856 delivered an unconscionably disrespectful speech against elderly South Carolina Senator Andrew Butler, author of the [[Kansas-Nebraska Act]] which legalized slavery in Western territories north of the [[Mason-Dixon Line]], whereupon Butler's outraged nephew Preston Brooks beat Sumner senseless with a cane inside the Capital.<ref>Sumner's Senate floor speech accused proponents of the Kansas-Nebraska Act of "rape of virgin territory."</ref>

President Johnson vetoed Republican civil rights legislation and even called their leaders "traitors". Flush from winning the war, Republican Rep. Thaddeus Stevens (PA) and Sen. Charles Sumner (MA) were not about to back down on the agenda of delivering equality for former black slaves. Sumner in 1856 delivered an unconscionably disrespectful speech against elderly South Carolina Senator Andrew Butler, author of the [[Kansas-Nebraska Act]] which legalized slavery in Western territories north of the [[Mason-Dixon Line]], whereupon Butler's outraged nephew Preston Brooks beat Sumner senseless with a cane inside the Capital.<ref>Sumner's Senate floor speech accused proponents of the Kansas-Nebraska Act of "rape of virgin territory."</ref>

When the House of Representatives impeached President Johnson by an overwhelming vote of 126 to 47, his ouster appeared to be a ''fait accompli''. President Johnson had violated the Tenure in Office Act by dismissing the Secretary of War. The key issue was if a President had the power to fire cabinet secretary approved by the Senate without the Senate's consent. Johnson was also intemperate in his name-calling of key senators. In addressing the jury of 54 senators, the prosecutor referred to President Johnson as an "accidental Chief" and "the elect of an assassin." Witnesses testified for both the prosecution and the defense.

When the House of Representatives impeached President Johnson by an overwhelming vote of 126 to 47, his ouster appeared to be a ''fait accompli''. President Johnson had violated the Tenure in Office Act by dismissing the Secretary of War. The key issue was if a President had the power to fire a cabinet secretary approved by the Senate without the Senate's consent. Johnson was also intemperate in his name-calling of key senators. In addressing the jury of 54 senators, the prosecutor referred to President Johnson as an "accidental Chief" and "the elect of an assassin." Witnesses testified for both the prosecution and the defense.

The prosecutors – called “managers” in impeachment trials – were confident of victory. Manager Thaddeus Stevens described President Johnson as the "wretched man, standing at bay, surrounded by a cordon of living men, each with the axe of an executioner uplifted for his just punishment." Manager John Bingham brought the public galleries to their feet with his oratory: "May God forbid that the future historian shall record of this day's proceedings, that by reason of the failure of the legislative power of the people to triumph over the usurpations of an apostate President, the fabric of American empire fell and perished from the earth."

The prosecutors – called “managers” in impeachment trials – were confident of victory. Manager Thaddeus Stevens described President Johnson as the "wretched man, standing at bay, surrounded by a cordon of living men, each with the axe of an executioner uplifted for his just punishment." Manager John Bingham brought the public galleries to their feet with his oratory: "May God forbid that the future historian shall record of this day's proceedings, that by reason of the failure of the legislative power of the people to triumph over the usurpations of an apostate President, the fabric of American empire fell and perished from the earth."

2/3rd vote was necessary for conviction, and it all turned on Republican Senator [[Edmund Ross]] of Kansas. Like real jurors, he spoke to no one during the proceedings and no one knew which way he was leaning. But he voted "not guilty," and President Johnson was acquitted by one vote. The Radical Republicans were defeated, the [[Ku Klux Klan]] and [[Jim Crow]] arose, and Republicans shied away from civil rights issues for the next 100 years in the face of Klan terror and media opposition.  Ross was characterized as hero in [[John F. Kennedy]]'s book ''Profile in Courage'', for resisting Republican civil rights reform efforts for Blacks in the South and working with Democrats.

2/3rd vote was necessary for conviction, and it all turned on Republican Senator [[Edmund Ross]] of Kansas. Like real jurors, he spoke to no one during the proceedings and no one knew which way he was leaning. But he voted "not guilty," and President Johnson was acquitted by one vote. The Radical Republicans were defeated, the [[Ku Klux Klan]] and [[Jim Crow]] arose, and Republicans shied away from civil rights issues for the next 100 years in the face of Klan terror and media opposition.  Ross was characterized as hero in [[John F. Kennedy]]'s book ''Profile in Courage'', for resisting Republican civil rights reform efforts for Blacks in the South and working with Democrats.  Andrew Johnson did not run for re-election and died a drunk.

===Richard Nixon (1974)===

===Richard Nixon (1974)===