In the transcription, the focus is on the political landscape of the United States during and after the Civil War, particularly regarding Tennessee's secession and Andrew Johnson's role. The narrative begins with Tennessee's secession in 1861 and introduces Andrew Johnson as a complex figure—a senator who was a racist but also a champion of state's rights and national unity. His disapproval of the Confederacy gained him the attention of President Lincoln, who appointed him as the military governor of Tennessee. This gesture led to Johnson becoming Lincoln's Vice Presidential nominee in 1864 despite being a Democrat. Following the Civil War's conclusion in 1865 and Lincoln's assassination, Johnson faced fierce opposition from Congress regarding the Reconstruction era—primarily over how to reintegrate Southern states. Johnson's approach proposed that states could rejoin the Union if they amended their constitutions to abolish slavery and offered apologies. This plan was met with hostility from Congressional Republicans, who sought harsher penalties for Confederate leaders and greater protections for Black citizens. The conflict escalated as Johnson vetoed Reconstruction bills, leading to Congress overriding his vetoes. The tensions culminated in Johnson's impeachment by the House after he violated a law regarding the firing of government workers, though he narrowly avoided removal in the Senate. The transcription concludes with a note on Congress's dominance during Johnson's presidency, marked by achievements like the purchase of Alaska, indicating that future presidents would have limited power for the subsequent thirty years.

PBS Presidents

Tennessee seceded from the United States in 1861, but one of its Senators didn't. Sure, Andrew Johnson championed states' rights, and sure, he was a racist, but he believed in national unity. 

So, he dissed the Confederacy and stated in Congress that impressed President Lincoln, who made Johnson the military governor of Tennessee as a gesture of national unity. Lincoln made Johnson his Vice Presidential nominee in 1864, even though he was a Democrat. 

The Civil War ended in 1865, but after Lincoln was assassinated, Johnson's war with Congress started. The hot topic was reconstruction: how to get Southern states back into the Union. 

The new president proclaimed that states could rejoin if they took slavery out of their constitutions and enough citizens apologized. Republicans in Congress hated that plan; they wanted more Confederate leaders punished and more legal protections for black citizens. 

It was all-out war. Johnson vetoed reconstruction bills, and Congress overrode the vetoes. Congress passed a law saying Johnson couldn't fire certain government workers. When Johnson fired one anyway, the House impeached him. 

The Senate fell one vote short of removing him from office. There were bright spots on Johnson's watch; the U.S. bought Alaska from Russia. But Congress ran the country, and presidents took a backseat for the next 30 years. 

[Music]

Andrew Johnson | 60-Second Presidents | PBS

Tennessee seceded from the United States
in 1861 but one of its Senators didn't
sure Andrew Johnson championed State's
rights and sure he was a racist but he
believed in National Unity so he dissed
the Confederacy and state in Congress
that impressed President Lincoln who
made Johnson the military governor of
Tennessee as a gesture of national Unity
Lincoln made Johnson his Vice
Presidential nominee in 1864 even though
he was a Democrat the Civil War ended in
1865 but after Lincoln was assassinated
Johnson's war with Congress started the
hot topic was reconstruction how to get
Southern States back into the Union the
new president proclaimed that states
could rejoin if they took slavery out of
their constitutions and enough citizens
apologized republicans in Congress hated
that plan they wanted more Confederate
leaders punished and more legal
protections for black citizens it was
all out War Johnson vetoed
reconstruction bills Congress overrode
the vetos Congress passed a law saying
Johnson couldn't fire certain government
workers when Johnson fired one anyway
the house impeached him the Senate fell
one vote short of removing him from
office there were bright spots on
Johnson's watch the US bought Alaska
from Russia but Congress ran the country
and presidents took a backseat for the
next 30 Years
[Music]

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Andrew Johnson | 60-Second Presidents | PBS

Transcription