Andrew Johnson as VP

[DannyW]

(06-15-2019 05:12 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  Danny, here is what I think is the reason. Many Republicans thought having a loyal Democrat as the Vice-Presidential candidate would strengthen the ticket and help get Abraham Lincoln re-elected. So Hannibal Hamlin was dropped, and Andrew Johnson was added to the National Union Party ticket in 1864. Johnson, a Southerner, had been rewarded for his loyalty to the Union. When the Southern states seceded, Johnson, a Democrat from Tennessee, was the only Senator from any of those states who remained loyal to the Union and retained his seat in the Senate chamber.

Isn’t it also true that Johnson wanted to hang the Rebel leaders & him & Grant had an argument about that! Then with problems with the Radical Republicans during reconstruction, he did an about face & issued the blanket pardons on Christmas Day 1868 before he went out of office! This seemed to make Southerners view him a little better!