Health and Medical History of President

Andrew Johnson

"massive head and deep chest" 4a

Had typhoid fever during the winter of 1864-1865, and was "slow to recover from the fever" 4a

Johnson was ill on March 4, 1865 -- the day he was to be inaugurated Vice-President and Lincoln president. He wanted to skip the ceremony, but Lincoln persuaded him otherwise 1a. To steady his nerves, Johnson had "three stiff drinks of whisky [sic]" and became drunk 4b. He walked into the inauguration ceremonies red-faced, on the arm of outgoing Vice President Hannibal Hamlin 3a. Then, during his speech, he talked too much and rather incoherently, leading to his reputation as the "drunken tailor." Lincoln defended him: "I have known Andrew Johnson for many years. He made a slip the other day, but you need not be scared; Andy ain't a drunkard" 1a.

Nevertheless, the consequences of this episode persisted. MORE

Reliability of this information is uncertain. 2