Today in American history…the US Senate acquit President Andrew Johnson of one of the crimes of high crimes and misdemeanors. He was charged with 11 articles of impeachment – all due to his staunch disagreement to the handling of the reconstruction of our country after the Civil War. There was then a ten day recess before the attempt to convict him on the additional articles. The delay did not change the outcome of the charges. On May 26, 1868, the Senate did not convict the president on two articles, both by the same margin, after which the trial was adjourned and did not consider the remaining eight articles of impeachment.

President Johnson was the very first President to be charged with high crimes and misdemeanors. The others would be in recent history: Richard Nixon (resigned), William J. Clinton and most recently President Donald Trump. (Photo Credit: Harpers Weekly, Theodore R. Davis’ sketch of the Senate impeachment process