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Sen. Wade, with fellow Radical Republican Henry W. Davis, introduced the [[Wade-Davis bill]] pertaining to a post-war plan which called for harsh restrictions on [[the South]] to safeguard the constitutional rights of newly freed blacks.<ref name=battlefieldtrust/> Although it passed both houses of Congress, Lincoln, who favored a reconciliatory and considerably more lenient Reconstruction policy,<ref>[https://ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Wade-Davis_Bill?rec=2083 Wade-Davis Bill]. ''Ohio History Central''. Retrieved November 9, 2021.</ref> pocket-vetoed Wade-Davis, and it never became law.<ref>Masur, Louis P. (July 7, 2014). [https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/07/07/the-battle-over-reconstruction/?mtrref=opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com&gwh=1D7946B2F263F3503671C1FE0718A813&gwt=pay&assetType=PAYWALL#more-153520 The Battle Over Reconstruction]. ''The New York Times''. Archived version available [https://archive.md/iPosG here]. Retrieved November 9, 2021.</ref> Although Wade was outraged and harshly attacked Lincoln's action in an issued manifesto along with Davis, he nonetheless aided the president's re-election due to no acceptable alternative.<ref name=encyclopedia.com/>

Sen. Wade, with fellow Radical Republican Henry W. Davis, introduced the [[Wade-Davis bill]] pertaining to a post-war plan which called for harsh restrictions on [[the South]] to safeguard the constitutional rights of newly freed blacks.<ref name=battlefieldtrust/> Although it passed both houses of Congress, Lincoln, who favored a reconciliatory and considerably more lenient Reconstruction policy,<ref>[https://ohiohistorycentral.org/w/Wade-Davis_Bill?rec=2083 Wade-Davis Bill]. ''Ohio History Central''. Retrieved November 9, 2021.</ref> pocket-vetoed Wade-Davis, and it never became law.<ref>Masur, Louis P. (July 7, 2014). [https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/07/07/the-battle-over-reconstruction/?mtrref=opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com&gwh=1D7946B2F263F3503671C1FE0718A813&gwt=pay&assetType=PAYWALL#more-153520 The Battle Over Reconstruction]. ''The New York Times''. Archived version available [https://archive.md/iPosG here]. Retrieved November 9, 2021.</ref> Although Wade was outraged and harshly attacked Lincoln's action in an issued manifesto along with Davis, he nonetheless aided the president's re-election due to no acceptable alternative.<ref name=encyclopedia.com/>

Following Lincoln's assassination, Wade initially was optimistic about the former's successor Andrew Johnson, though soon would similarly wage fierce opposition.<ref name=battlefieldtrust/> As the [[President pro tempore of the Senate]],<ref name=encyclopedia.com/> he was next in succession to the presidency immediately after Johnson, and this significantly impacted the Senate impeachment trial of Johnson. The racist Tennessee Democrat's Senate acquittal was in part attributed to several Republicans' distaste for Wade, knowing that he would become president if Johnson were removed from office.<ref name=battlefieldtrust/> Congressman John R. Lynch commented:<ref name=battlefieldtrust/>

Following Lincoln's assassination, Wade initially was optimistic about the former's successor Andrew Johnson,<ref name=britannica/> though soon would similarly wage fierce opposition.<ref name=battlefieldtrust/> As the [[President pro tempore of the Senate]],<ref name=encyclopedia.com/> he was next in succession to the presidency immediately after Johnson, and this significantly impacted the Senate impeachment trial of Johnson. The racist Tennessee Democrat's Senate acquittal was in part attributed to several Republicans' distaste for Wade, knowing that he would become president if Johnson were removed from office.<ref name=battlefieldtrust/> Congressman John R. Lynch commented:<ref name=battlefieldtrust/>

{{cquote|...some of [Wade's] senatorial Republican associates should feel that the best service they could render their country would be to do all in their power to prevent such a man from being elevated to the Presidency.|||U.S. representative John Roy Lynch of Mississippi's 6th congressional district}}

{{cquote|...some of [Wade's] senatorial Republican associates should feel that the best service they could render their country would be to do all in their power to prevent such a man from being elevated to the Presidency.|||U.S. representative John Roy Lynch of Mississippi's 6th congressional district}}