Editing Andrew Johnson (section)

== Vice presidency (1865) ==
{{Main|1864 United States presidential election}}
[[File:Republican presidential ticket 1864b.jpg|thumb|Poster for the Lincoln and Johnson ticket by [[Currier and Ives]]]]

In 1860, Lincoln's running mate had been Senator [[Hannibal Hamlin]] of Maine. Although Hamlin had served competently, was in good health, and was willing to run again, Johnson emerged as running mate for Lincoln's reelection bid in [[1864 United States presidential election|1864]].{{Sfn|Trefousse|p=177}}

Lincoln considered several [[War Democrat]]s for the ticket in 1864, and sent an agent to sound out General [[Benjamin Butler (politician)|Benjamin Butler]] as a possible running mate. In May 1864, the president dispatched General [[Daniel Sickles]] to Nashville on a fact-finding mission. Although Sickles denied that he was there either to investigate or interview the military governor, Johnson biographer Hans L. Trefousse believes that Sickles's trip was connected to Johnson's subsequent nomination for vice president.{{Sfn|Trefousse|p=177}} According to historian [[Albert E. Castel|Albert Castel]] in his account of Johnson's presidency, Lincoln was impressed by Johnson's administration of Tennessee.{{Sfn|Castel|1979|p=9}} Gordon-Reed points out that while the Lincoln-Hamlin ticket might have been considered geographically balanced in 1860, "having Johnson, the ''southern'' War Democrat, on the ticket sent the right message about the folly of secession and the continuing capacity for union within the country."{{Sfn|Gordon-Reed|p=76}} Another factor was the desire of Secretary of State [[William H. Seward|William Seward]] to frustrate the vice-presidential candidacy of fellow New Yorker and former senator [[Daniel S. Dickinson]], a War Democrat, as Seward would probably have had to yield his place if another New Yorker became vice president. Johnson, once he was told by reporters the likely purpose of Sickles' visit, was active on his own behalf, delivering speeches and having his political friends work behind the scenes to boost his candidacy.{{Sfn|Trefousse|p=178}}

To sound a theme of unity in 1864, Lincoln ran under the banner of the [[National Union Party (United States)|National Union Party]], rather than that of the Republicans.{{Sfn|Gordon-Reed|p=76}} At [[1864 National Union National Convention|the party's convention]] in Baltimore in June, Lincoln was easily nominated, although there had been some talk of replacing him with a cabinet officer or one of the more successful generals. After the convention backed Lincoln, former Secretary of War [[Simon Cameron]] offered a resolution to nominate Hamlin, but it was defeated. Johnson was nominated for vice president by C.M. Allen of Indiana with an Iowa delegate seconding it. On the first ballot, Johnson led with 200 votes to 150 for Hamlin and 108 for Dickinson. On the second ballot, Kentucky switched its vote for Johnson, beginning a stampede. Johnson was named on the second ballot with 491 votes to Hamlin's 17 and eight for Dickinson; the nomination was made unanimous. Lincoln expressed pleasure at the result, "Andy Johnson, I think, is a good man."{{Sfn|Trefousse|pp=178–180}} When word reached Nashville, a crowd assembled and the military governor obliged with a speech contending his selection as a Southerner meant that the rebel states had not actually left the Union.{{Sfn|Trefousse|pp=178–180}}

[[File:Lincoln and Johnsond.jpg|thumb|left|1865 cartoon showing Lincoln and Johnson using their talents as rail-splitter and tailor to repair the Union]]

Although it was unusual at the time for a national candidate to actively campaign, Johnson gave a number of speeches in Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, and Indiana. He also sought to boost his chances in Tennessee while reestablishing civil government by making the loyalty oath even more restrictive, in that voters would now have to swear that they opposed making a settlement with the Confederacy. The Democratic candidate for president, [[George McClellan]], hoped to avoid additional bloodshed by negotiation, and so the stricter loyalty oath effectively disenfranchised his supporters. Lincoln declined to override Johnson, and their ticket took the state by 25,000 votes. Congress refused to count Tennessee's electoral votes, but Lincoln and Johnson did not need them, having won in most states that had voted, and easily secured the election.{{Sfn|Trefousse|pp=181–185}}

Now Vice President-elect, Johnson was eager to complete the work of reestablishing civilian government in Tennessee, although the timetable for the election of a new governor did not allow it to take place until after Inauguration Day, March 4. He hoped to remain in Nashville to complete his task, but was told by Lincoln's advisers that he could not stay, but would be sworn in with Lincoln. In these months, Union troops finished the retaking of eastern Tennessee, including Greeneville. Just before his departure, the voters of Tennessee ratified a new constitution, which abolished slavery, on February 22, 1865. One of Johnson's final acts as military governor was to certify the results.{{Sfn|Trefousse|pp=183–187}}

Johnson traveled to Washington to be sworn into office, although according to Gordon-Reed, "in light of what happened on March 4, 1865, it might have been better if Johnson had stayed in Nashville."{{Sfn|Gordon-Reed|p=82}} Johnson may have been ill; Castel cited typhoid fever,{{Sfn|Castel|1979|p=9}} though Gordon-Reed notes that there is no independent evidence for that diagnosis.{{Sfn|Gordon-Reed|p=82}} On the evening of March 3, Johnson attended a party in his honor at which he drank heavily. [[Hangover|Hung over]] the following morning at the Capitol, he asked Vice President Hamlin for some whiskey. Hamlin produced a bottle, and Johnson took two stiff drinks, stating "I need all the strength for the occasion I can have." In the Senate Chamber, [[Andrew Johnson's drunk vice-presidential inaugural address|Johnson delivered a rambling address]] as Lincoln, the Congress, and dignitaries looked on. Almost incoherent at times, he finally meandered to a halt, whereupon Hamlin hastily swore him in as vice president.{{Sfn|Castel|1979|pp=9–10}} Lincoln, who had watched sadly during the debacle, then went to his own swearing-in outside the Capitol, and delivered his acclaimed [[Abraham Lincoln's second inaugural address|Second Inaugural Address]].{{Sfn|Gordon-Reed|p=85}}

In the weeks after the inauguration, Johnson only presided over the Senate briefly, and hid from public ridicule at the Maryland home of a friend, [[Francis Preston Blair]]. When he did return to Washington, it was with the intent of leaving for Tennessee to reestablish his family in Greeneville. Instead, he remained after word came that General [[Ulysses S. Grant]] had captured the Confederate capital of [[Richmond, Virginia]], presaging the end of the war.{{Sfn|Castel|1979|p=10}} Lincoln stated, in response to criticism of Johnson's behavior, that "I have known Andy Johnson for many years; he made a bad slip the other day, but you need not be scared; Andy ain't a drunkard."{{Sfn|Trefousse|p=191}}