Harpers Weekly first featured Andrew Johnson on its cover in the
issue of June 25, 1864 after he was nominated for Vice President. It gave his background
and an editorial boost on an inside page. This photograph by Mathew Brady was its national
audiences introduction to what Andrew Johnson looked like.
On May 13, 1865, Andrew Johnson again was featured on the
cover as the seventeenth President. A week later, the background of his nomination was
detailed as engineered by Secretary of State William H. Seward.
On September 15, 1866, Harpers Weekly again printed the
same picture of Andrew Johnson, along with many additional biographical details and an
analysis of his personality and temperament. This review is positive for his
pre-presidential days, but negative after that as it lays out the divergence of views
between the President and the 39th Congress with regard to Reconstruction.
In 1867, Harpers Weekly published two
unfavorable editorials, one reviewing Johnsons nomination and the other comparing
him to John Tyler and Millard Fillmore. All three inherited the Presidency and did badly.
They are included in this section so that viewers may see how Harpers
Weeklys presentation of Johnsons background changed as his progressed.
Articles relating to Johnson's Background:
Andrew Johnson (small bio)
June 25, 1864, page 402
The Union Nominations
June 25, 1864, page 402
President Andrew Johnson
May 13, 1865, page 289
The President and the Secretary
of State
May 20, 1865, page 306
Andrew Johnson
September 15, 1866, page 583
Andrew Johnson
September 15, 1866, page 584
The Vice-Presidency
September 14, 1867, page 578
The Vice-Presidency
December 7, 1867, page 770