Changes

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/><ref>Fascinating Politics (December 18, 2019). [https://fascinatingpolitics.com/2019/12/18/the-johnson-impeachment/ The Johnson Impeachment]. ''Mad Politics: The Bizarre, Fascinating, and Unknown of American Political History''. Retrieved November 9, 2021.</ref> 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/><ref>Fascinating Politics (December 18, 2019). [https://fascinatingpolitics.com/2019/12/18/the-johnson-impeachment/ The Johnson Impeachment]. ''Mad Politics: The Bizarre, Fascinating, and Unknown of American Political History''. Retrieved November 9, 2021.</ref> 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}}

The failure to convict and remove President Johnson from office led to Wade's political downfall. In 1968, he lost re-election to [[Democrat]] [[white supremacist]] [[Allen Granberry Thurman]] when Republicans lost control of the state legislature.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=271448 OH US Senate Race - Jan 15, 1868]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 9, 2021.</ref>

The failure to convict and remove President Johnson from office led to Wade's political downfall. In 1968, he lost re-election to [[Democrat]] [[white supremacist]] [[Allen Granberry Thurman]] when Republicans lost control of the state legislature.<ref>[https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=271448 OH US Senate Race - Jan 15, 1868]. ''Our Campaigns''. Retrieved November 9, 2021.</ref>