John Wilkes Booth's plot famously targeted President Lincoln, Vice President Andrew Johnson, and Secretary of State Steward. So my question is, what happens if both Lincoln and Johnson are killed? The next in line according to succession law at the time was one Lafayette Foster. But the succession law also had an odd requirement that, given the death of both the President and the Vice President, an election had to be held within the year. Meaning the death of Andrew Johnson means the election of 1865. How does the precedent setting Foster Presidency affect the end of the civil war? If the law requires an election within the year who are the candidates? I half suspect the Republicans will pick Grant, but I have no idea who the Republicans nominate.