After being impeached, President Andrew Johnson survived his 1868 Senate trial by just one vote. And to this day, how that vote was cast remains shrouded in controversy. Senator Edmund Ross, a loyal Republican, shocked the nation when he voted not guilty in the impeachment trial of Johnson.
Edmund G. Ross was a journalist, abolitionist, and loyal Republican—and the most hated man in America after he voted against Andrew Johnson's removal from office. Ross's decision was seen as a betrayal by many in his party, who believed that Johnson's actions warranted impeachment.
William Wallace Ross moved to Florida to grow oranges after becoming a bit player during the Andrew Johnson impeachment trial in 1868 and it was clear that the political fallout from the trial had a lasting impact on those involved. Many senators faced backlash for their votes, but none more so than Ross.
The impeachment trial was almost over, and Sen. James Grimes was tormented with doubt. The senator from Iowa couldn't stand Andrew Johnson, but he also couldn't bring himself to vote for his removal. In the end, he joined Ross in voting not guilty, sealing Johnson's fate.
Congress's impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump are polarizing the country along largely partisan lines, but they also serve as a reminder of past impeachments, including that of Andrew Johnson. The echoes of Ross's controversial vote can still be heard in today's political landscape.
A man from Topeka cast the decisive vote that kept Chief Executive Andrew Johnson from being removed from office the first time the U.S. Senate tried to impeach a president. Ross's vote changed the course of history and sparked intense debate over his motivations.
Betrayal. Paranoia. Cowardice. We've been here before. The impeachment trial of Andrew Johnson was filled with intrigue and political maneuvering, as senators grappled with the weight of their decision.
150 years ago, Andrew Johnson was impeached by the House of Representatives. What led Congress to try to remove Abraham Lincoln's successor? The political climate of the time, coupled with Johnson's controversial actions, set the stage for a historic impeachment trial.
Andrew Johnson was impeached by the U.S. House of Representatives on February 24, 1868 - 151 years ago. The events that followed, including Senator Ross's pivotal vote, continue to be analyzed and debated by historians and political scholars.
