The Trial of Andrew Johnson - Setting the bar for Trump

[packman]

Andrew Johnson-profane, vulgar, populist, and almost a parallel to Trump, missed impeachment by 1 vote. A bit of history that reflects on what is happening today .


"... striking parallels between Trump and Johnson. Political bomb-throwers, wild and intemperate on the campaign trail, popular with white nationalists, governing in times of great social and demographic change, both men proved (or, in Trump’s case, have thus far proven) inept chief executives—far more skilled at acquiring enemies than governing. "

But for Democrats, and some Republicans, who quietly hope for Trump’s impeachment and removal, the case of Johnson offers only cold comfort. In 1868, Congress established a high bar for presidential removal. It’s not enough to be obnoxious or racist, nor to incite violence and mismanage affairs of state, nor even to collude spiritually with enemies of the American government. Precedent establishes that to be removed from office, a president must manifestly violate the law as was the case with Richard Nixon, whose far-reaching and well-documented efforts to obstruct justice, evade taxes and suborn criminal conspiracy would almost certainly have resulted in impeachment and conviction had he not resigned first.



http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/05/20/andrew-johnson-impeachment-donald-trump-215166

[dalton99a]

1. Trump's will be the greatest impeachment ever

Highly unlikely of course - yet it must be pursued. Make them defend the asshole.

[mucifer]

2. After watching a free Yale lecture series around civil war and reconstruction

andrew johnson I felt was as close as we get to trump. It does say something about Abraham Lincoln that he chose this monster to be his VP . I know he felt he couldn't win without him. But, I wonder how our nation would have been different if Lincoln wasn't assassinated.


Here is the free course you can watch on youtube with Professor David W Blight who wrote several books on the subject:

http://oyc.yale.edu/history/hist-119

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5DD220D6A1282057&feature=plcp

[manicraven]

3. Thank you for the links!