Tickets Used to Gain Entry to President Andrew Johnson's Impeachment trial

The tickets to President Andrew Johnson's impeachment trial were much sought after items in 1868. For the first time in history, the House of Representatives impeached a president, who would then stand trial by the US Senate. Andrew Johnson had violated the Tenure of Office Act by removing his Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton. The act stated that a president could not remove a high-appointed official who had been confirmed by the Senate, during the term of the president who appointed him.

However, Abraham Lincoln had appointed Edwin Stanton, and Johnson felt it was within his right to dismiss him. Ultimately, the Senate agreed. They found Andrew Johnson not guilty — by a one-vote margin. If one more senator had voted "guilty," the Senate would have reached the necessary 2/3 majority to convict and remove Johnson from office. As it was, he completed the rest of his term. In 1926, the Supreme Court ruled the Tenure of Office Act unconstitutional, affirming the belief Johnson had held about the act since its inception.

The tickets, color-coded by day, represent the significance of the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site in a multitude of ways: they represent the first impeachment of a president for "high crimes and misdemeanors." They represent his acquittal, proving that the nation could undergo such a trial and continue to maintain the critical balance of powers outlined by the founding fathers. They prove the value of the vote, and stand testament that one vote can make an insurmountable difference in our American democracy.