150 years ago today, the court came back in session to hear the articles of impeachment against Andrew Johnson as well as his responses to each one. Most of the articles deal with various ways that he was in violation of the Tenure of Office Act by removing Edwin Stanton as Secretary of War. High crime, this. High misdemeanor, that. The defense for President Johnson was that they still didn’t have enough time to build their case outside of preparing the President’s own responses.
The next day, March 24, Justice Chase was set the official beginning of the trial for March 30.
I know this comic late, and all words. But I figured it was important to put the articles of impeachment on the record as part of the story, and let me tell you – it was not easy for my non-lawyer brain to boil these articles down to a sentence each. Anyone more knowledgable than me, feel free to check my work!
A resent documentary program (“Mysteries at the Museum”) special on the assassination of Abraham Lincoln raised a conspiracy theory that Johnson was involved in the assassination, and the reason why his assassin didn’t show up. This rests with the survival of Booth to old age and an interview with his doctor.
Indeed, Johnson hurt Congress’ feelings. Such pettiness. Johnson certainly tested the extent to which Congress would go. He intended that and escaped being removed by one vote.
Does it really take a president to “Excite the American people to bring into disgrace ridicule, hatred, contempt and reproach against Congress?” Don’t they do that themselves?
Perhaps the whole exercise was to demonstrate just how flimsy the articles of impeachment were against Andrew Johnson. Clearly, AJ was going against the wishes of his predecessor, as well as the Congress, but were these accusations truly high crimes and treason?
Brian Carroll creator about 6 years ago
150 years ago today, the court came back in session to hear the articles of impeachment against Andrew Johnson as well as his responses to each one. Most of the articles deal with various ways that he was in violation of the Tenure of Office Act by removing Edwin Stanton as Secretary of War. High crime, this. High misdemeanor, that. The defense for President Johnson was that they still didn’t have enough time to build their case outside of preparing the President’s own responses.
The next day, March 24, Justice Chase was set the official beginning of the trial for March 30.
I know this comic late, and all words. But I figured it was important to put the articles of impeachment on the record as part of the story, and let me tell you – it was not easy for my non-lawyer brain to boil these articles down to a sentence each. Anyone more knowledgable than me, feel free to check my work!
Fido (aka Felix Rex) Premium Member about 6 years ago
BULLY! (oh, sorry, wrong President…)
dsmeltze about 6 years ago
Typo in Article VIII: United S(t)ates
gammaguy about 6 years ago
All things which Trump is now doing so often that it seems to be almost “daily”.
But I’m curious… What’s this “act regulating the tenure of certain civil office”? Has it been repealed, or is it still on the books?
Dkram about 6 years ago
A resent documentary program (“Mysteries at the Museum”) special on the assassination of Abraham Lincoln raised a conspiracy theory that Johnson was involved in the assassination, and the reason why his assassin didn’t show up. This rests with the survival of Booth to old age and an interview with his doctor.
I repeat this is a Conspiracy Theory.
\\//_
richsolano about 6 years ago
Article XI: Johnson just insulted Congress, and that’s a high crime? Insert your own joke here.
jcole998 about 6 years ago
@gammaguy – The act was repealed in 1887.
jcole998 about 6 years ago
Indeed, Johnson hurt Congress’ feelings. Such pettiness. Johnson certainly tested the extent to which Congress would go. He intended that and escaped being removed by one vote.
dutchs about 6 years ago
Does it really take a president to “Excite the American people to bring into disgrace ridicule, hatred, contempt and reproach against Congress?” Don’t they do that themselves?
Cheapskate0 about 6 years ago
Perhaps the whole exercise was to demonstrate just how flimsy the articles of impeachment were against Andrew Johnson. Clearly, AJ was going against the wishes of his predecessor, as well as the Congress, but were these accusations truly high crimes and treason?