alternatehistory.com

Andrew Johnson was not a good man and he was not a good President. He was short tempered, vendicitive and often drunk. Stubborn to extreme fault, and openly ambitious. Even by the low standards of the era he was a monumental racist. In his mind African Americans were involved in a grand conspiracy against poor Americans, somehow in cahoots with those that had enslaved them.

When presented with a choice between ending the planter elites he had made his career fighting against, or preserving white supremacy he chose the latter. In doing so he crippled Reconstruction to the point where even the best efforts of the radicals could not save it. He and Congress dragged America into the bitter bowels of impeachment.

Despite all this Andrew Johnson was a fighter. He'd fought his way up the latter in Tennessee, demonstrating tenacity as he opposed the elites. Johnson showed genuine courage during the Civil War, the only Senator to remain loyal while serving a seceding state. For this he was rewarded with the Millitary Governorship of Tennessee, where he fought to stamp out treason. So great was his resistance to the Confederates that when he assumed office it was feared that he would be too harsh on the defeated South.

Instead he was too lenient and helped condemn the region to violence and racism. The very fighting spirit that had been admirable turned his presidency to ash and his schemes to gain another term fell flat.

But that is not the case in this timeline. In this timeline he is killed by a compatriot of John Wilkes Booth in his hotel room, bleeding out before even Lincoln is dead. Reconstruction trundles on, free of Johnson but still burdened with the indeniable racism of the era. The Man himself becomes obscure. Not quite a footnote, but overshadowed by Lincoln's assassination. Noted only because his death completed a pair that led to special elections, acting presidents and so forth.

When Johnson is remembered in this new realm, it is as a wistful what if. A different question then the cliche of Lincoln surviving. Indeed it is fans of alternate history, here called 5th Dimensionalists, whole are perhaps most acquainted with Johnson. They view him as a hero, despite indications to the contrary, who might have improved their history.

It is not a fate that Andrew Johnson would have wanted. The Man had fought his way upwards, so close to power, and he would have balked at being a mere curiosity.

Yet perhaps it is the best he could have gotten.