It was the morning of March 4, 1841 and William Henry Harrison was getting dressed to deliver his 18,000 word Inagural Adress. So it was a surprise to him when the new President was told that it was a cold, rainy day.
The Hero of Tippecanoe replied that the Americans needed a strong face.
The person who told him it was cold glared at the war hero and insisted he at least wear a hat.
Recognising the person right when he looked out his window, he donned his hat, but he insisted that he ride on horseback. The person just sighed, and walked out, muttering rudely.
Harrison got onto his horse and set about with his inagural address outlining the policies of the Whigs and a repudiation of Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren.
After attending many inagural balls, the President arrived at the White House and went to bed.
The following day, he found Henry Clay with an appointment, giving him suggestions for Cabinet positions aggressively.
William Henry Harrison was not a war hero for nothing and he sternly glared down Henry Clay. "Mr. Clay, you forget that I am the President, not yourself."
Later, Clay's rival, Daniel Webster, and Harrison's Secretary of State, gave his supporters some highly coveted patronnage positions. The rivalry of Webster and Clay would continue throughout Harrison's Presidency and beyond. Harrison eventually agreed to put Clay's protege, John J. Crittenden, in the position of Postmaster General.
Harrison noted by April that he'd been a bit slower. On April 4th, however, he complained of stomach pains and went to see his doctor. John Tyler, his Vice-President, escorted the President there.
It was there that the doctor discovered that Harrison was ill - and on the 5th, his condition worsened. His condition continued to worsen - and multiple treatments were used, such as opium, castor oil, leeches, and Virginia snakeweed - however they did little but worsen his condition.
Morning on April 20th John Tyler walked into the President's room at the doctor's. Harrison seemed at death's knell. Tyler sat down and Harrison looked to the left of Tyler and stated: "Carry out the principles of government..." With another breath, Harrison fell asleep, faintly breathing.
John Tyler blinked a few times and felt the old war hero's pulse. It was there, if faint. Tyler got the doctor in a flurried panic and the doctor said, "Well, Mr. Tyler, it seems that until the President recovers - if he recovers - you are the Acting President." Tyler immediately set out for the White House and called an emergency session of Congress. Henry Clay was in a foul mood.
"Exactly why did you call an emergency of session, Tyler?"
Tyler responded evenly: "President Harrison is a coma. I'm Acting President."
"Well, I'll be a son of a gun..." Clay muttered. "Well? Get about your business! You're the President, for heaven's sake! There's laws to be written, a National Bank to be established, and a Jackson to repudiate! Hurry up!"
Tyler left the session in a foul mood.
Such started a Constitutional Crisis.
It was wondered that, had the powers of Vice-President devolved upon Tyler, or was he merely acting. Despite Harrison's faint life, Clay insisted that Harrison "was as good as dead" and that Tyler, as Vice-President, it was Tyler's duty to "carry out the Whig policies Harrison promised."
Despite this Tyler said that, as Harrison was not dead, he was not President. This debate continued for nearly a year until during 1842 it was reported by the doctor attending to Harrison that the President was dead.
So apparently Tyler was now president. But Clay had become fed up and said that emergency elections would be held in this case of Constitutional crisis. Tyler was not amused, but after being pressed by the cabinet, he announced to a very shocked public that emergency elections were taking place that August for the people to choose a president. Afterwards, Tyler submitted himself as a candidate for the Whig Party, which surprised Henry Clay. Daniel Webster heartily approved of it. The Democratic Party was only able to muster up the former President, Martin Van Buren. Tyler was elected in a landslide. Henry Clay was still spluttering in surprise. And new elections were to be held in only two years.
Tyler, having constitutionally became President, instilled Daniel Webster as Vice-President.
Clay however orchestrated in 1843 the mass resignation of all of Tyler's Cabinet members. One by one, his Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of War, Secretary of the Navy, Attorney General, and Postmaster General walked in and handed in forms of their resignation. Tyler was furious and appointed new members of the Cabinet.
Letters addressed to "Vice-President" Tyler or "Acting President" Tyler were returned unopened. The Bank and tariff legislation Tyler had vetoed caused the Whig House of Representatives to attempt to impeach Tyler. The attempt failed.
The election of 1844 had arrived and the major issue of the campaign was the annexation of the Republic of Texas.
----
List of Presidents:
George Washington, 1789-1799
John Adams, 1797-1801
Thomas Jefferson, 1801-1809
James Madison, 1809-1817
James Monroe, 1817-1825
John Quincy Adams, 1825-1829
Andrew Jackson, 1829-1837
Martin Van Buren, 1837-1841
William Henry Harrison, 1841-1842*
John Tyler, 1842-**
*Technically, in April 1842, John Tyler assumed the powers of the Presidency after an intense debate.
**John Tyler was only constitutional ratified as President due to an emergency election held in 1842.
The Hero of Tippecanoe replied that the Americans needed a strong face.
The person who told him it was cold glared at the war hero and insisted he at least wear a hat.
Recognising the person right when he looked out his window, he donned his hat, but he insisted that he ride on horseback. The person just sighed, and walked out, muttering rudely.
Harrison got onto his horse and set about with his inagural address outlining the policies of the Whigs and a repudiation of Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren.
After attending many inagural balls, the President arrived at the White House and went to bed.
The following day, he found Henry Clay with an appointment, giving him suggestions for Cabinet positions aggressively.
William Henry Harrison was not a war hero for nothing and he sternly glared down Henry Clay. "Mr. Clay, you forget that I am the President, not yourself."
Later, Clay's rival, Daniel Webster, and Harrison's Secretary of State, gave his supporters some highly coveted patronnage positions. The rivalry of Webster and Clay would continue throughout Harrison's Presidency and beyond. Harrison eventually agreed to put Clay's protege, John J. Crittenden, in the position of Postmaster General.
Harrison noted by April that he'd been a bit slower. On April 4th, however, he complained of stomach pains and went to see his doctor. John Tyler, his Vice-President, escorted the President there.
It was there that the doctor discovered that Harrison was ill - and on the 5th, his condition worsened. His condition continued to worsen - and multiple treatments were used, such as opium, castor oil, leeches, and Virginia snakeweed - however they did little but worsen his condition.
Morning on April 20th John Tyler walked into the President's room at the doctor's. Harrison seemed at death's knell. Tyler sat down and Harrison looked to the left of Tyler and stated: "Carry out the principles of government..." With another breath, Harrison fell asleep, faintly breathing.
John Tyler blinked a few times and felt the old war hero's pulse. It was there, if faint. Tyler got the doctor in a flurried panic and the doctor said, "Well, Mr. Tyler, it seems that until the President recovers - if he recovers - you are the Acting President." Tyler immediately set out for the White House and called an emergency session of Congress. Henry Clay was in a foul mood.
"Exactly why did you call an emergency of session, Tyler?"
Tyler responded evenly: "President Harrison is a coma. I'm Acting President."
"Well, I'll be a son of a gun..." Clay muttered. "Well? Get about your business! You're the President, for heaven's sake! There's laws to be written, a National Bank to be established, and a Jackson to repudiate! Hurry up!"
Tyler left the session in a foul mood.
Such started a Constitutional Crisis.
In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the same shall devolve on the Vice President.
It was wondered that, had the powers of Vice-President devolved upon Tyler, or was he merely acting. Despite Harrison's faint life, Clay insisted that Harrison "was as good as dead" and that Tyler, as Vice-President, it was Tyler's duty to "carry out the Whig policies Harrison promised."
Despite this Tyler said that, as Harrison was not dead, he was not President. This debate continued for nearly a year until during 1842 it was reported by the doctor attending to Harrison that the President was dead.
So apparently Tyler was now president. But Clay had become fed up and said that emergency elections would be held in this case of Constitutional crisis. Tyler was not amused, but after being pressed by the cabinet, he announced to a very shocked public that emergency elections were taking place that August for the people to choose a president. Afterwards, Tyler submitted himself as a candidate for the Whig Party, which surprised Henry Clay. Daniel Webster heartily approved of it. The Democratic Party was only able to muster up the former President, Martin Van Buren. Tyler was elected in a landslide. Henry Clay was still spluttering in surprise. And new elections were to be held in only two years.
Tyler, having constitutionally became President, instilled Daniel Webster as Vice-President.
Clay however orchestrated in 1843 the mass resignation of all of Tyler's Cabinet members. One by one, his Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of War, Secretary of the Navy, Attorney General, and Postmaster General walked in and handed in forms of their resignation. Tyler was furious and appointed new members of the Cabinet.
Letters addressed to "Vice-President" Tyler or "Acting President" Tyler were returned unopened. The Bank and tariff legislation Tyler had vetoed caused the Whig House of Representatives to attempt to impeach Tyler. The attempt failed.
The election of 1844 had arrived and the major issue of the campaign was the annexation of the Republic of Texas.
----
List of Presidents:
George Washington, 1789-1799
John Adams, 1797-1801
Thomas Jefferson, 1801-1809
James Madison, 1809-1817
James Monroe, 1817-1825
John Quincy Adams, 1825-1829
Andrew Jackson, 1829-1837
Martin Van Buren, 1837-1841
William Henry Harrison, 1841-1842*
John Tyler, 1842-**
*Technically, in April 1842, John Tyler assumed the powers of the Presidency after an intense debate.
**John Tyler was only constitutional ratified as President due to an emergency election held in 1842.
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