Re: Are u Smarter than a 5th Grader?
I watched it, questions pretty tough.
One was first president to be impeached:
A: Andrew Jackson
I got to thinking, then why is he on the $20 bill ?
Did they get this wrong ?
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Let's Get This Impeachment Story Correct[/SIZE]
By: Doug Fiedor -- December 28, 1998
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Many of us know better but make the mistake anyway. In the last week, I'll bet I've heard at least five talking heads and three or four newsmakers make the very same mistake. I even did it once in wrongly agreeing with someone -- and I really should know better.
There are two Andrews from Tennessee, and they are being confused lately. Andrew the First is the very same guy pictured on our twenty dollar bill. Born in 1767, Andrew Jackson grew up around the border of North and South Carolina.
As a 13 year old boy in 1775, Andrew Jackson became involved with the American Revolution as an orderly and messenger. Shortly thereafter, he also took part in the Battle of Hanging Rock against the British and in a few other small skirmishes against British sympathizers.
By 1787, Andrew Jackson was a lawyer in McLeanville, North Carolina. Shortly thereafter, he moved his office to Nashville, Tennessee where he became interested in politics. In 1796, Jackson was elected into the House of Representatives, representing Tennessee. However, he only stayed in the House about a year before moving to the Senate. In 1798, Jackson retired from the Senate and returned to private life, mixed with a bit of military duty.
In 1815, Andrew "Old Hickory" Jackson became commander of the South District Army. By 1824, Jackson was a presidential candidate, losing that bid in the House to John Quincy Adams.
However, Jackson, again ran for the presidency in 1828 and won. He also won again easily 1832. Popular to the end, the last day of Jackson's presidency was said to be as much a personal triumph as his first. Thousands came, not to see the new president but to bid good-bye to their beloved hero, Old Hickory.
Andrew the Second came a few years later.
Andrew Johnson was born in Raleigh, North Carolina in 1808. Johnson never attended school, rather he apprenticed as a tailor when he was a young man. In 1826, Johnson moved to Tennessee and established a tailor shop that soon also became the local meeting place for the area gentlemen.
Soon thereafter, Johnson met Eliza McCardle, and the two were married. Mrs. Johnson used her education to improve Andrew's reading, writing and arithmetic skills. Johnson then honed his debating skills by joining a debate club at the local college. For the next few years, Johnson moved his way up the political ladder in a succession of elections. Johnson served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1843 to 1853 and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1857.
In the 1864 election, President Lincoln picked Johnson as Vice President. Johnson took the oath of office in March 1865. The following month President Lincoln went to Ford's Theater in Washington and was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. Andrew Johnson then became President on April 15, 1865.
Andrew Johnson tended to favor Lincoln's views on a benevolent period of reconciliation with the South after the Civil War. However, many in Johnson's inherited cabinet favored a policy of harsh retribution for the Southern States. Secretary of War Edwin Stanton was a member of that radical faction and worked against Johnson's policies. Therefore, Johnson dismissed Stanton. Stanton then claimed that Johnson acted in violation of the Tenure of Office Act enacted the previous year. This act stated the president may not dismiss certain publicly elected officers without the consent of the Senate.
During the impeachment proceedings, the House brought eleven charges against Johnson, primarily dealing with violations of the Tenure of Office Act. Only three of these charges were voted on in the Senate trial, and these failed by one vote each of reaching the two-thirds majority necessary to remove Johnson from office. Congress therefore filed a censure resolution, which was subsequently removed by the next Congress. Andrew Johnson completed the remainder of Abraham Lincoln's term of office but failed to receive his party's nomination for office in 1869.
Andrew Jackson, Old Hickory, the General, the face on our $20 bill, was not impeached. Ever. Rather, he was elected to office as President of the United States twice and served with honor.
It was Andrew Johnson, who was never elected to office as President of the United States, who was impeached by the House but not convicted in the Senate. It must also be noted, however, that Andrew Johnson was impeached strictly for political reasons. Andrew Johnson served with honor and distinction.
William Jefferson Clinton is the first elected President to ever be impeached by the House of Representatives. But, unlike Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton was impeached because of personal illegal acts and corruption in office. In other words, Bill Clinton does not serve with honor and distinction.
As there is a difference between the Andrews, so too is there a great difference between the reason for impeachment. Let's try and keep those differences straight.
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<CENTER>From the "A View from the Foothills of Appalachia" series All of Doug Fiedor's works can be found at
Heads Up
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