Let him seek peace and pursue it. – 1 Peter 3:11
Today, in 1868, marked the end of President Andrew Johnson’s impeachment trial in the Senate. Johnson assumed the presidency after the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and opposed Congress regarding reconstruction policies. The impeachment process, initiated by the House of Representatives, charged Johnson with breaching the Tenure of Office Act when he removed Secretary of War Edwin Stanton without congressional consent. The trial lasted for three months. On May 16, the Senate voted on the first eleven articles of impeachment, including the violation of the Tenure of Office Act. The majority voted him guilty, but it was one vote short of the mandatory two-thirds majority needed for a conviction. The Senate then voted on the last articles of impeachment with the same results. This was the first presidential impeachment trial in American history, and, though Johnson was not removed from office, his trial created criteria for future presidential impeachments.
As the Lord leads, pray with us…
- For members of Congress as they seek to hold executive branch officials accountable for their actions and decisions.
- For U.S. governing officials to work for the benefit of the nation with integrity and honesty.
