| not a drunkard |
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 [6b]. He walked into the inauguration ceremonies red-faced, on the arm of outgoing Vice President Hannibal Hamlin [4a]. 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] |
