And on the website, cspan. Org podcast. Important congressional hearings and other Public Affairs of the day and weekdays 5 00 p. M. And 9 00 p. M. Eastern, catch washington today for a fastpaced report of the stories of the day. Listen to cspan anytime to tell her smart digger, play cspan video. Cspan, powered by radio. April 1865, confederate surrender and assassination of president Abraham Lincoln. This period of uncertainty, new president Andrew Johnson would lead the divided nation and especially africanamericans were hopeful to johnson actively promote the ability. This became disillusioned johnson and dramatic reason with the for douglas policies and a number of lectures across the country. Conflict of congress over reconstruction eventually fed to impeachment and within the national archives, resolution to impeach johnson written on paper in the u. S. Ou house of representatives february 21, 1868. Three days later, 128 to 47 to adopt the resolution. Libby portrays record and was undivided our community to reject Andrew Johnson and calls for his impeachment trial. A single professor of english distinguished teacher Cap University of maryland at college park. The most recent book in the lives of Frederick Douglass transnational in the 19th century American Literary studies. Living receives the Humanity Foundation in 2014 the American Literature section awarded him a metal for a Lifetime Achievement in American Literary studies. Thank you for joining us. Thank you for that kind introduction. It is a real honor to be here. Im going to do a slideshow, im going to go to shared screen. This is the cover of the book and again i want to thank you for the kind introduction. What i like about this cover is the red is a page from the articles and this is kind of cool. The theme of the book is to provide information on the early years of construction and introduction had the impeachment itself in 1868. Most of the studies of the impeachment focuses on the republican. I want to bring to life africanamerican perspective on impeachment focusing on Frederick Douglass and activists construction about black Voting Rights and citizenship in those rights. Their concern about antiblack racism in the north and south of their own problems johnson says to tell a story about the relationshipra between Douglas D Johnson that hasnt been told before and i tried to do this in a novelistic way. The adversaries were available and they dress well, johnson was a former taylor and felt it was important in this photograph in the 19th Century America and went against the stereotype and it looks serious. Johnson and douglas meant only twice in person and that is the second inauguration when he gave his famous speech into the white house february 7, 1866 but they were throughout johnsons p presidency and he even made him a job offer. Today i will talk about the douglas relationship and the johnson impeachment. Heres a famous picture of lincoln and you can see here redouglas here, all douglas was asking was Abraham Lincoln earlier in the white house invited him to inauguration. After the speech he tried to get into the white house and stopped by security that he asked douglas how and told he almost got his great friend. Doug was told the United States he walked away and johnson we can ask the recession and Frederick Douglass told the story of what happened next. Douglas is 1881, about 16 years later. He touched mr. Johnson in the first expression that came to his face which i think is bitter contempt and immersion and he tried to assume every appearance that it is too late. This was the demagogue and he says whatever Andrew Johnson made certainly no end of hours. Great passage, douglas was a great writer, english professor and thiss idea of a door opening and closing showing johnsons true feel. It is retrospective and fully to the belief in life and times, he celebrates him as a savior. During the civil war he often attacked we can into confederate leadershi and i start with this bmoment and went back in time o get a nuanced portrayal and it is not necessarily s poor here u will and a lot of people have black abolitionist and you will be a great vice president. It is appealingal about johnson and this is the five in the Republican Party so he was from tennessee and the only 77 or the west against secession. Lincoln appointednc him 1862 and 1863 johnson again put his life on the line and abolitionist slavery. It is quite unusual for that. Republicans feared and in october 1864 in the military governor he gave a famous speech in which he declared a large cloud of black people in t nashville enslaved people in tennessee for free. The speech was widely supported and flax newspapers. Johnson became obsessed with the speech and referred to it again and again throughout his career whenever he wanted to make this case. Here are a few passages from the newspaper and this is johnson speaking to a large crowd he says in due time this will be revealed to you and he said this after he declared this he ended. This was caught up in capital again and johnsons response was this will lead you through to a fair future of liberty and peace. As a lot of people who think johnson was dishonest here and throughout his career. I think he was kind of caught up in the energy and wanted to be involved. I have more to say about this throughout time. In this second inaugural, he said he was a racist but im not sure thats what he bought in 1865 in the white house and when johnson took office after the assassination of lincoln some thought he wouldld be more progressive than lincoln. Before he saw johnson there was a second inauguration. Douglasar was seeing the work of emancipation and he wanted the full rights off citizenship andi refer to this as 1895 as the year he died basically calling for emancipation during the civil war and citizenship and in 1864 and everyday of the Johnson Administration is said Something Like this. Slavery not abolished until a black man has developed. The 13th amendment it was the nests just to see the slavery led by kherson who announced the crowd 13th amendment and slavery their job was over. He said what i just quoted here, they decided they would not pursue not just the end of slavery but in a larger sense, citizenship. This was the rest of his life. He is noticing it is still difficult so the u. S. President a little more after lincolns inauguration. P in 1865 about johnson initially the radical republicans seem to like. There is this image of republicans and senator from massachusetts and congressman from azevedo. The Republican Party and johnsons Republican Party was dominated by the radicals. The states to be reconstructed and in addition to slavery in 1865 they wanted the confederacy out of power and they saw johnsonle as a trapper. Charles sumner for example said everything you said about black and they concluded that johnson is a dear friend ready. They have similar responses and they thought johnson would do what he wanted. Then it started to change. Like most other southern white men may 29, 1865 johnson issued a proclamation which allows states to return to the union has they had before the civil war. Confederate leaders remain in power in the confederatefe stat. Now it wasnt a problem. Johnsons commitment was to restoration. I emphasize that work, restoration. It was not allowed by the constitution. They say its like saying the murderer could killed and it was against the law the restoration should be watched over and enabled. In short he believed the restoration and congress. Thefo republicans call for reconstruction. The president and congress were in conflict over the next three years. Interestingly, johnson continued. His first year in office he was in the whitehi house and he made it a possibility for black suffrage and he mentions a thisn his presentation. Suggesting they have the right too vote but nothing came about by because the publicans. He became more and more reactionary. The civil war are on the verge of being watched as in the treachery of president. Black activists believe that something needed to be done and that takes us to the second meeting with johnson on februar. That is in the white house. The black delegation going to washington, d. C. As a lobbying group to talk to congressman and the president about black lives. The group, around 10 people arriving late january of 1866. These are two members of the group. Blackas activists. Also located work, a black restaurant to her. He got the job being in charge of the congressional dining room. They hads worked with his father as a c journalist. He was working with writing responses of the meeting. I emphasize coming out of the book. Okthat is part of what i really explore in the book. Some of the wellknown as a pioneer in short hands. He could take wonderful notes. Hahe thought the meeting would o really well. Once again for black people. In a d. C. Newspaper that night. Anan incredible contribute to te stenographer in a collective version the next morning. Reappearing around the country. It was basically an effort to get johnson on board with promoting advocating. The meeting went Something Like this. Johnson greeted them. It was some small talk back and forth. Launching into the speech about an hour suggesting because johnson was interrupted by questions from the blacks who were i there. John became a bit aggressive. Feeling that blocks themselves were aggressive. He would tell them a moment from the delegation and i quote, i have said they need in the United States there would be more than myself from bondage to freedom. The plot delegation says thank you. President douglas who is a performancen and wants to get under johnsons skin. If the president will allow me, i would like to say one or two words. Your enemies and disenfranchise your friends. But he met franchise with people during the civil war and do disenfranchise the black people. Who fought with the union during the civil m war. This infuriates johnson. The transcript shows that this went on for quite a while. This is just a snippet from the exchange. Lets understand thatai they hae organic rights. Rallying with him. They could speak up and the emphasis here is good for democracy. I address immigration. He has it in his power to go again. Basically he may even be saying the United States. A double heat of the exchange is to expose johnson. This is important. At god away from him. Privately he moves after the meeting with some aides. One of whom describes a meeting to a newspaper editor. Deciding not to print the description because he was a johnson reporter. Those damn sons of [bleep] thought they had me. Just like any. He uses the edward. A year later offering douglas a job. But for now, let me just say this. Quickly crafting a response to johnson. Washington, d. C. Newspaper to thee transcript of the meeting. And helped to shape that transcript. Ed douglas and delegation had real media savvy. The media as a turning point. It explains the main purpose. Johnson camend to the defense. Black newspapers printed this exchange and they turned against johnson. This is what douglas had to say about johnson just a few weeks after the meeting. What shall be said of johnson. Must take a back seat. Traders being confederates. Lets take a back seat of the work. The Supreme Control of the state in which they live. If he becomes their pharaoh instead. You see a lot of moses become this. To the account why this must be here. He is better never has been formed. Plaques in memphis and new orleans. This is a painted mask. Kind of a tradition to a contributorr. A painting about that occurred. Late july in new orleans. Johnson ends up with a here and it heated spirit. They thought he was like a king at the top of this little punk here. That is what johnson said about the southern confederates. I am your moses. Kind of watching as they are gunning down black people. Where they are coming from. Dozens continue to speak up againstes johnson. A danger to the republic the first time in 1866. In the book i focus on january 3, 1867 in a black lecture series in philadelphia the africanamerican who played such an important part in the underground railroad. A transcript of this here in a philadelphia newspaper. Has not been republished until now. I thinkan its for nasa dating fascinating. In africanamerican poet fiction writer and lecturer. Lets say a few words about the lecture she gave. National salvation. I want to have i want to exercise working together with other black leaders. Black live citizenship. This is a picture by william still. I want to show you the conclusion of her talk which is about racism in the north and south. Actually beginning by talking about how black people in philadelphia have problems using public transit. She says near the end a Great National muster onward to the station so that he may reach a certain point. Slavery still lingers in the body politics. What do you do . Say it such a precious thing you cannot put it away. It kind of takes it out of the National Body and maybe the nation. It is a really fascinating speech. And is really concerned about black suffrage. Then he goes out to johnson. There are not enough on the presidencycy. He says it again and again and again. What happens when a bad man with healing powers. A oneman veto. It is pardoning power and patronage. Too much unchecked power. Not just talking about johnson did he saying in the future we could havee some bad men who may want to become kings like johnson and do things like this. Finding it kind of funny that people thought he was going to support the south. That they were going to have an experience he and the vice president. He also says get rid of the vice presidency. They areth one away from a presidency. There going to launch to kill the president. In a very strange twist in the story, in 1867 proposes a commissioner of the bureau all over the power. Having to go quickly right now on, this is a picture of howard. But loved by black people based in w washington, d. C. In the soh helping black people. Money a matters. And so on. The black i people having a gret job. Howard university named after howard. It made no sense on a radical in the job except it was a way to get douglas under johnsons control. Johnson had made a small offer to douglas. He did not want to be exposed going after douglas. So, douglas third son who worked itat the bureau in washington, d. C. Was tired of asking his father if he would like a job. William the courtship went on for severaln weeks. Douglas made it clear he did not want the job and then he kbetrayed the job that johnson wanted. Letting the newspaper know about the offer. The greatest black man in the nation did not consent to becoming a fool to this. [inaudible] we now come to the controversy of the impeachment. Johnson wanted to fire evidence under lincoln. Itn was illegal and dan Impeachable Offense passed by the republican harvard in march of 1867. Of office act, basically i will paraphrase. They have to be removed by the sender did not just the president and violating that would be seen as a misdemeanor which would be cause for impeachment. In 1868, johnson decided to fire no matter what. This is a picture. He died in 1869. He was fired for what he did. And added a lot of stress which may explain why he died a year laterug. So johnson decides to fire stanton even though it is a violation. Johnson was encased for that act to the construction. At least that is the case on paper. You will b see a few mentions of construction. It is really dominated by the act. The trial itself through congressional office, the trial was dole. A legalistic struggle to our office act that has been violated. The question is in the book really know black voices at this the f moments of their reconstruction president s. Keeping up with the debate on the firing of stanton of the confederation. Here is an image. I will say it was obviously great here. They were packed virtually every day. So, a good question. My quick answer is staying on the sidelines for several reasons. The first being that he was clearly troubled by what a number of black newspapers called the legal fillers that dominated the name. Also, he has his son charles, ramon nair, as a conduit. Ci look at a number of letters that charles hill is based in d. C. At the office about the impeachment trial saying again and again that this man is horrible peach met. Impeachment. Charles got two tickets towards the trial. He expected his father to come. An interesting day with the transcript. On representative for Benjamin Butler attacked johnson for his racism. He actually said that and the chief justice of the Supreme Court he was presiding over the trial basically said he was out of work. That is not what this trial is about. Douglas decided not to show up. He thought that all eyes would him. Charles told him about what he missed. I am sure something happened with the impeachment trial. Impeachmentot in may both shorty one vote. Hemany of the plaques felt betrayed. The republicans did not want the speaker of the house next in line for the presidency. Din part because he was a socialist and in part because ulysses x grant as the next president. Charles Herman Douglas both believed that johnson should have beent convicted did. And they both thought that chief justice of the Supreme Court we can see they responded to the act. Chase was a former abolitionist. Knowing the republicans trying to make t the democrat happy. Here is what he had to say about chase. I will paraphrase. Charlesde said the president because he helped with johnson. He says that chase will become this abolitionist to seemingly be an advocacy. One of the spectacles that could affect the eyes of men. Chase said it led him to the gutter. I think that this is all about principles. Douglas turning down the job from Andrew Johnson at crucible. He stays relatively quiet during the trial. What had happened in the newspaper commentary. The 50th amendment in 1870. Doing other things with citizens. Unless he saw the continuation ofof jim broke practices and the Supreme Court being complicit in amall of this, he told americans this was years after johnsons death. He had betrayed that. I will not read the rest of that he picks up on that image of johnson. He spoke to black groups in 1869 and retired reminded them and shared the clippings of his famous moses speech. A telling them it was like slavery he had some understanding that blacks were suffering in the south h. And is great. A book on black reconstruction calling johnsonn not the most evil man in the history but, and i quote, the most pivotal figure in American History. Johnson had promised. Johnson lost the congressional election. In 1865 named senator of tennessee. Several months in office before dying in tennessee. Here is an image. Death of Andrew Johnson. Meanwhile five years after the death. Coming to that conclusion. I think he had less to say what was going on in georgia and texas. States with strictly Voting Rights which he no doubt would say take us back to the days of jim crowe. This is really important. American ideas and possibilities one of the famous speeches. He address blacks in the country. Everything he fought for seemed to be in jeopardy. This is the lecture, a pamphlet in 1894, that is when he gave the lecture. He hadse a lot to say. These are his concluding words. These would be my concluding words as well. The idea that one classless role of another recognizing the fact that they are is worthy of protection. Your problems will be solved. Prosperitydv or adversity whethr without or within. Based upon the eternal principles of truth, justice and humanity and not having any because of complaints with leaders. I love this conclusion because basically saying continue to fight the good fight and continue the good fight based on the ideals of the nation as he understood them. The ideals of democracy and ideals of freedom. I am going to stop there. Thank you. Taking questions that are on chap. Let me see if i can see them. Did Andrew Johnson ever visit that is a good question. My answer is, no. But i also want to say that i am an english professor that reads a lot and i read the 15 volumes of johnsons papers. I think that i would have noticed. I am going to say no. The bureau formally and registering to vote. I think that that did happen. Would have been around 1870. The Fitness Bureau thereafter was decommissioned. Decommissioning allows the upsurge of jim crow practices and efforts to stop black people from voting. At this point, two questions. I would be happy to take more questions. I will be looking at the chap. I can emphasize a few things about the book. One thing is i kind of offer a nuanced portrayal of Andrew Johnson. It is not just good versus evil. When i gave the manuscript to friends in literature and history, some people will say you are taking a riskier because we do know that johnson was an awful president. He failed in the job that we all wish that he did. At the same time, i was struck by his efforts. 1863 and 1865 to reach out to black people. And to challenge slavery. Open to the possibilities of blacks voting. Those of you that know your American History know that abrahamm lincoln himself did not live to c see the day when blacs could vote. In his very last speech before he was assassinated, he said he could imagine losing devoted to groups of black people. Theho first is the intelligence. What is that . How do you determine that . He shared with johnson in 1855 the idea of the civil war. Johnson also thought the blacks that held property could vote. Coming up with this idea of the intelligence which would be hard to figure out. What lincoln had done as president. Lincoln was more pragmatic and johnson. Listening to black people. Entertaining black people. So, as i kind of layout in the book, johnson had plenty of visitors with black groups. Abraham lincoln had visits from Frederick Douglass, other black leaders during the civil war and whatever they said, he responded at some point to change the policy. The first time that douglas visited lincoln, he pointed out that wages were not the same for black and white soldiers. Lincoln responded sayingoi there was a pragmatic reason for that. Let me take that into consideration. Proposing the gorilla expedition on the confederates. Lincoln makes him the first black major. Evidence of the same kind of listening. Emphasizing with the book, having questions. Douglas work constantly racism and people. Other men and johnson. I dont believe that johnson was the only white in the United States. Pretty much supported by white people in 18651868. Questioning whether black people should have a vote came to a ballad in places like new york and minnesota. These proposals were defeated. The radical republicans themselves could at times be journalistic. In particular the radicals. Using the edward. It is from 1850 until 1870. Using the and word and how it was done with black people. He can taste that in the food Andrew Johnson. In a chapter of the book that i did not discuss is a Republican Convention in philadelphia in september of 1866 that douglas wanted to attend. Someone in particular did not want him there. Did not want a black person there. This racism involved with a black woman. The pragmaticd argument was the Republican Party being perceived as a black party. Anyway , stevens route to the colleagues that douglas should not be there, douglas attends anyway. He is shunned out first but then his speeches draw people in. On the final day of this convention, they actually both to support black Voting Rights. Dramatically describing this convention in his 1881 license with Frederick Douglass. Not kinda facing down Andrew Johnson. But facing down the republican. I do not think that johnson supported the performances. Actually douglas, johnson became much more reactionary by the end of 1865. I will just say by way of conclusion that when johnson went on the road in 1869 attempting to become a congressman, must have had the vote and suddenly he needed them all of these speeches that he gives, about his internal lipstick as you can be. You can also say he is kind of needy. He wants love. And yet he is doing the worst possible things to black people while he is president. The irony is, precisely because he is, they had to speed up the passage and ratification of the amendment. By 1870, Ulysses S Grant is president. Onthe question is, where did things go wrong . It is not just about johnson. When you talk about reconstruction in the black perspective you get a larger sent of the white racism everywhere. Douglas was one of the great fighters against that racism to a time of his death. And inspired by the documents of the nation. It is been a real honor to be here. Thank you. You can read more about this in my article published last week. Thank you guys. 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