Former Sec of War Edwin M Stanton died in Dec 1869, some 18 months after setting the stage for the impeachment of Andrew Johnson. But what happens if he dies the previous year, before Johnson has a chance to dismiss him? What then?
Johnson might still want to test the Tenure of Office Act, so might try to do so by sacking someone else - but would anyone else have held out against dismissal the way Stanton did?
Alternatively, Johnson's enemies might look about for some other ground for impeachment. But could they have found one that came as close to success as OTL's?
Or finally, would they just have let the matter drop, and resigned themselves to waiting out the last nine months of AJ's term, as ultimately they had to do OTL? Any thoughts?
Johnson might still want to test the Tenure of Office Act, so might try to do so by sacking someone else - but would anyone else have held out against dismissal the way Stanton did?
Alternatively, Johnson's enemies might look about for some other ground for impeachment. But could they have found one that came as close to success as OTL's?
Or finally, would they just have let the matter drop, and resigned themselves to waiting out the last nine months of AJ's term, as ultimately they had to do OTL? Any thoughts?