Abraham Lincoln on Andrew Johnson
← Back to Abraham Lincoln ProfileSensing Andrew Johnson's awkwardness at his inauguration, Abraham Lincoln confided to a friend that the incoming Vice President was, simply, "a queer man."
“This Johnson is a queer man.”
Drawn from an evening of pre-inauguration drinking, Lincoln's comment reflects a forgiving, yet slightly condescending, view of Vice-President-elect Andrew Johnson's behavior.
“It has been a severe lesson for Andy, but I do not think he will do it again.”
Amidst concerns over Johnson's drunken inauguration speech, Lincoln attempted to reassure onlookers, downplaying the incident as a momentary lapse rather than a deeper problem.
“I have known Andy for many years... he made a bad slip the other day, but you need not be scared. Andy ain't a drunkard.”