This is a film biography of Andrew Johnson (who was Abraham Lincoln's Vice-President at the time Lincoln was assassinated). President Johnson's story is usually glossed over in history classes as the first President to be impeached. The hows-and-whys of this impeachment are worth while understanding, and this film is the only one I know that takes on this task—although after reading a review of this movie in IMDb, I realize that there may have been many historical liberties taken. The film's director, William Dieterle, made some of the best film biographies of the 30s and 40s (Juarez, The Life of Emile Zola, Dr Ehrlich's Magic Bullet, and The Story of Louis Pasteur).
As the movie starts, Johnson (Van Heflin) is shown as an uneducated runaway apprentice tailor. He is freed in Tennessee and meets a girl (Ruth Hussey) who teaches him to read, write, and speak properly. He is a Jacksonian Democrat that has a passion to enfranchise people who don't own land. His public speaking popularity projects him into politics-- finally into the U.S. Senate.
During the Civil War, he was the only Southern Senator to remain in office and support the Union. After Lincoln's assassination, he becomes President and attempts to carry out Lincoln's reconstruction plan—total inclusion (without punishment) of the defeated South and amnesty to all Southerners.
His attempts are continually thwarted by Congressional Republicans, led by Thaddeus Stevens (Lionel Barrymore). Finally, the impasse between Johnson and the Republican Congress leads to a radical bill-- called the Tenure of Office Act—which was finally found to be unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1927. The Act was designed to limit Johnson's (executive) powers with regard to removing any of Lincoln's cabinet members.
Although Congress overrides Johnson's veto of the bill, Johnson still attempts to remove one of his cabinet members (really a disloyal "spy" working for Thaddeus Stevens). THIS was the excuse for his impeachment and attempted removal from office. The movie builds to an exciting climax as Johnson is tried in by the Congress. As with all good courtroom dramas, this movie "hits the mark" for me!!
As the movie starts, Johnson (Van Heflin) is shown as an uneducated runaway apprentice tailor. He is freed in Tennessee and meets a girl (Ruth Hussey) who teaches him to read, write, and speak properly. He is a Jacksonian Democrat that has a passion to enfranchise people who don't own land. His public speaking popularity projects him into politics-- finally into the U.S. Senate.
During the Civil War, he was the only Southern Senator to remain in office and support the Union. After Lincoln's assassination, he becomes President and attempts to carry out Lincoln's reconstruction plan—total inclusion (without punishment) of the defeated South and amnesty to all Southerners.
His attempts are continually thwarted by Congressional Republicans, led by Thaddeus Stevens (Lionel Barrymore). Finally, the impasse between Johnson and the Republican Congress leads to a radical bill-- called the Tenure of Office Act—which was finally found to be unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1927. The Act was designed to limit Johnson's (executive) powers with regard to removing any of Lincoln's cabinet members.
Although Congress overrides Johnson's veto of the bill, Johnson still attempts to remove one of his cabinet members (really a disloyal "spy" working for Thaddeus Stevens). THIS was the excuse for his impeachment and attempted removal from office. The movie builds to an exciting climax as Johnson is tried in by the Congress. As with all good courtroom dramas, this movie "hits the mark" for me!!