President Andrew Johnson must rank up there pretty high for getting a bum rap in US History. Born in Raleigh NC to parents of a modest income, the highlights of President Johnson's remarkable rise from poverty to an elected alderman, mayor of Greeneville, Tennessee Legislature Rep, US Houe of Rep, Governor of Tennessee, US Senator, and then Vice President gets blurred by his impeachment.
(incidentally by one vote.) Supposedly he was a drunk and somewhat disagreeable but if you had been sold into indentured servitude at 14 to a tailor because your father had died when you were 3.... I think you might have some self medication problems later in life as well. Nevertheless, one of my most favorite things to do when in Greeneville is to stop by the Andrew Johnson national park site. I always took my Tayler to the park when traveling for business 10 years ago and was sad to see how (national park budget cuts) have diminished the role of guides. However, I thought the way the park had adapted as clever.
The Andrew Johnson National Park offers a small visitor center, an on site example of a home in the 1860's. You can make arrangements to see the Johnson homestead a few blocks from the Visitor's Center and vote on his impeachment. For the curious about Andrew Johnson, there are some good sites online:
Our White House Looking In
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Photographed by M. Ungurait 11/12 |
It's hard to imagine someone who had never been to one day of school in his entire life was elected to so many offices. His life of poverty lead him to sympathy toward those enslaved:
“Slavery is the cancer upon the body politic, which must be rooted out before perfect health can be restored.” stated Johnson.
However, my very favorite place in Greeneville is the McKee home and law office. This Classic Revival structure from the mid 1800's can be seen on McKee and Irish streets. Maybe next time, I will knock on the door for inside pics....
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