It looks like this where americans can see democracy at work and the republic thrives. Get in a form to straight from the sores on cspan, unfiltered, unbiased word for word from the Nations Capital to wherever you are to get the opinion that matters most is your own, this is powered by cable. April, 1865 brought the confederate surrender and assassination of president Abraham Lincoln. Inre this period of uncertainty americans wondered how the new president Andrew Johnson would lead the divided nation. Ss to attack the policies and a number of lectures across the country johnsons conflict with congress over reconstruction led to the impeachment and in their records of the National Archives is the resolution to impeach johnson written on a scrap of paper and introduced in the house of representatives february 21, 1868. Three days later the house voted 128 to 47 to adopt the resolution. In the failed promise, they portray the conflicts that brought Frederick Douglass and the community to reject Andrew Johnson and call for a guilty verdict in the trial. The distinguished professor of english and distinguished scholar and teacher at the university of maryland at college park. The most recent books before the failed promise or the lives of douglass and in 19th century American Literary studies. Levine has received fellowships from the endowment of the humanities and the guggenheim foundation. In 2014 the American Literature section of the Language Association awarded him a metal free Lifetime Achievement in American Literary studies. Now lets hear from robert levine. Thank you for joining us. Thank you for that kind introduction. Its a real honor to be here. Im going to do a slideshow and talk through what i do in the book so im going to share the screen. This is the cover of the book and again i want to thank david for the introduction. What i like about the cover is underneath the red is a page from the articles of the impeachment plus i like pictures and the whole color scheme. The aim of the book is to provide a perspective on the early years of reconstruction 1865 o to 1868 on Andrew Johnson and on the impeachment itself which occurred in 1868. Most of the studies of the impeachment focus on the wide radical republicans. The africanamerican perspective on the reconstruction and impeachment focusing on Frederick Douglass and other black activists reconstruction was about a block Voting Rights and rights to citizenship. They a were concerned about antiblack racism inn the north northand south and had their own problems with johnson and let me say i tried to tell a story about the relationship between douglas and johnson that hasnt been told before. I think it is interesting and i try to do it in a novelistic way. Heres what i call the adversaries. They were formidable figures. They dressed well. Johnson was a former taylor, douglas felt it was important in his photographs and some q views the most photographed man wanted to depict himself against the stereotype so he tends to look serious in his pictures. Johnson and douglas met only twice in person and that is lincolns second inauguration march 14th 65 when he gave his famous speech and at the white house february 7th when johnson was president. But they shadow each other throughout johnsons presidencyt and johnson even made douglas a job offer in 67. Today i will talk about some key moments of the relationship. Lets startg with the first meeting between douglas and johnson in march of 65 after lincolns second inauguration. Heres a famous picture of lincoln and if you can see the arrows its right around here. My historian friends say douglas is right around here in the second row. Im not entirely sure of that but douglas was at the inauguration because Abraham Lincoln who met with douglas twice earlier at the white house invited him to the inauguration. After the speech, douglas tried to get into the reception at the white house and was stopped by security but was eventually vouched for and asked douglas how he liked the speech and told the group that douglas was his great friend. Douglas walked away, lincoln was joined at the reception and let president douglas told the story of what happened next. This is from the life and times of Frederick Douglass so about 16 years later. Standing at m the crowd he poind him out the first expression was the true bidder content seemed i observed him he tried to assume a more friendly appearance but was too late. Ee its useless to close the door when all has been seen. First was the smile of the demagogue. Whatever Andrew Johnson may be, he is no friend of ours he. Im an english professor and i like this idea of a door opening and closing showing johnsons true field. Its retrospective and i dont think that its fully believed. Douglas celebrates lincoln as a savior and during the civil war he often attacks lincoln at one point as a confederate leader. I start with of this moment and back in time i want to also point out how he ended up being lincolns Vice President and also make the point that a lot of people thought including that he would be a great Vice President. On but there was something promising that brought him to the attention of the Republican Party. Johnson again put his life on the line calling for the abolition of slavery. But the republicans feared they would lose the election and in october of 64 this is a key moment while johnson gave a famous speech in which he declared before a large crowd in nashville they hadnt been createdro by the emancipation proclamation. It was widely reported and celebrated. Johnson also became obsessed with the speech and referred to it again and again whenever he wanted to make the case. Theres a few passages from the newspaper accounts of the speech. In due time it will be revealed to you. He says this after he is declared which he wasnt authorized to do. You are our moses and then johnsons response worthy as i am i will lead you through to a fair future of liberty. I think he was kind of caught up in the energy. To returnco to the reception for the inaugural, douglas said he saw a racist but im not sure if thats what he saw in 65 when he was in the white house or in 1881 j long after the terrible presidency. The fact is when johnson took office in 1865 after the assassination of lincoln, some fault that he would be more progressive. And i want to offer just a few words here before he sold johnson from a distance at the second inauguration, douglas was committed to the civil war and he wanted more than emancipation. He wanted the full rights of citizenship. In this slide i refer to the douglas argument basically clung for emancipation in the civil war and the new citizenship and the mission of the board and 63 in syracuse and 64 and then virtually every day of the Johnson Administration he would again and again Say Something like this. Slavery is not abolished until the black man has the ballot. So garrison announced that the society could disband. The job was over. Douglas said there was a boat and they decided they would pursue not just the antislavery but in a larger sense, citizenship. This is basically what douglas is arguing for the rest of his life. Johnson became the 17th u. S. President a little more than a month after lincolns second inauguration. The douglas at this point in the spring and summer of 65 had nothing negativead to say. Initially they seemed to like johnson and here is an image of charles sumner, senator of massachusetts and Thaddeus Stevens, congressman from pennsylvania. Lincolns Republican Party and now johnsons Republican Party was dominated by the radicals who wanted the Confederate States to be reconstructed. In addition in 1865 they wanted the former leaders of the confederacy out of power and a black man to have the right to vote. They sold johnson as a fellow traveler someone who shared their views. Charles sumner, for example, said he agreed with everything he said and voted and concluded johnson is the sincere friend and ready to act for him. As i elaborate in the book other radical republicans s have simir responses in april and even today. But then things started to change. Was he like most other men or even worse . Johnson issued an amnestylo that allowed the federal states to return to the union as they have been for the civil war except without slavery. They could remain in power in the states and petition but that wasnt a problem. The commitment was to the restoration with a wild idea that the states never succeeded because the session wasnt allowed by the constitution. The story says thats like saying a murderer couldnt have killed because murder is against the law. According to the restoration, it should be watched over and guidedes by the president. In short, he believed in the restoration and the republicans continue to call for the congressional reconstruction. The president and congress were in conflict over the next three years. Interestingly, they continued to see him as black moses. In the white house and even the possibility of the limited suffrage you mentioned the semiprivate letter and even in the first presentation to congress. It might be given with of the right to vote but nothing came of that. He fought against the republicans. He became more and more reactionary in response to the radical republicans. Frederick douglass and other africanamericans turned on him more quickly. They compared him to the president of the confederacy and warned the games of the civil war were on the verge of being lost because of the treachery. Douglas and other black activists believed that something needed to be done and that takes us to douglas second meeting february 7th, 1866. These are two members of the group. George downing was a black activist. He was at restaurant tour from rhode island that moved to washington d. C. He had become friends with charles arbiter. He got the job of being in charge of the. He was the leader of the group. Dallas was the first son of frederick and ana. I had worked with his father as a journalist. He was the corresponding secretary was involved in writing responses about the meeting. And one thing i want to emphasize here and i emphasize this throughout the book it. Hes not acting alone. An activist and part of what i really explore. The he was going to serve as publicity. He had a sonographer, who is a wellknown as a pioneer in shorthand. He could take wonderful notes. He thought the meeting would go really well. Would show once again. A transcript of the meeting appeared in a d. C. Newspaper that night. Which was an incredible tribute to the stenographer and a corrected version appeared the next morning. That account appeared in newspapers around the country. I found it ina newspapers in nevada and california for example. The meeting was basically an effort to get johnson on board with promoting, advocating blacks right to vote. The meeting with Something Like this. He led thehe group they agreed O Johnson Johnson greeted them. There was some small talk back and forth and then johnson launched into a speech that douglas later said took about an hour. But the transcript suggest it was not that long because johnson was interrupted by questions from the blacks over there. Johnson became a bit aggressive. The blacks themselves were aggressive. Nd and he felt defensive around black people he would tell them i am your moses. This particular moment he says to the delegation and i quote, i have said and i will repeat here the coloreded vent in the United States could find no other moses or any moses when he more able e and efficient than myself, i would be his moses to lead him fromom bondage to freedom. This itey went into discussion they said their goodbyes. Frederick douglass who is a performer and i think we wanted to get under johnsons skin with out the door is about to leave and he says to johnson, look, if the president will allow me i would like to say one or two words in reply. Franchisor enemies and disenfranchise your friends. By which he meant to enfranchise the people during the civil war, the confederates who said we are enemies you disenfranchise the black people the black men particular who fought for the union during the civil war. This infuriates a johnson and comes back and forth and johnson and douglas. The transcript shows this went on for quite a while. This is a snippet from the exchange in which douglasas says understand he is an organic right to vote he will raise up a party in the Southern States who will rally with him. You speak a up between the wealy slave owner and the poor meant the emphasis as this will be good for democracy. Johnson was found to touch upon their suggest immigration. He had in his power to your he could get. This is a pretty bold statement. Blackk people can leave the souh he may even be saying black people can lead the United States. But douglas did to the exchange is exposed johnson for what he was. He didntor care about black people this was important. Johnson was frustrated by the meeting it got away from him. I got out of his control. Privately he beats after with some aides one of whom describes decide at the parenthesis he was a johnson supporter but according to that letter this is what johnson said quote. They thought they had i know that douglas he is like any and he uses the n word. Are your later he would offer douglas a job. But for now let me say this. The black delegation quickly crafted a response to Johnson Douglas and his son probably wrote that it appeared in the next days washington d. C. Newspaper as the frame to the scranton transcript of the meeting it helped to shape how to read the transcript douglas and the delegation had real immediate savvy. Meeting was a turning point it exposed johnson. That may has been his main purpose. Johnsons friends came to his defense it was back and forth in the newspapers. Black newspapers and progressive journals printed the exchange they turned against johnson. This is what douglas had said about johnson a few weeks after the meeting speaking. What should be said of him that told us the traders must take a backseat the traders being the confederates. Spoke out against the civil war. Take a backseat the work of restoration the Supreme Control of the states in which they live. What shall be set of him promised to be the moses of the colored race if he becomes instead. Douglas to the accounts, he had better never had been born. Finally the black delegation johnson becomes even more reactionary. In memphis and new orleans. They believed by johnsons racism and his refusal to support black suffrage. This is aat painting who is a character and regular contributor to harpers weekly. Its a painting about the massacres because late july and new orleans. Johnson was not there according to douglas he was there in spirit. Is wearing a crown because critics thought he was like a king at the top of this a bunk here. Thats what johnson said about that Southern Confederate you can read this i am your moses. To the king is watching on as white peoplee are getting down black people and other critics of johnson are coming from. Douglas continued to speak out johnson. Developed a fabulous stump speech called sourcese of danger to the republic which he gave to the first time in the 1860 6a. And then on numerous occasions in 1867. In the book i focus on january 1867 in a black lecture sellers in philadelphia the africanamerican played such an important part in the underground railroad. Hey transcript appeared in a philadelphia newspaper and has not been republished untiled no. Included as an appendix in the book. I think it is fascinating to see talking to emily black audience. In the lecture series francis ellen walked harper is a popular africanamerican poetay fiction writer and lecturer. If you were asked about the lecture she gave also in january titled National Salvation. Again i want to emphasize douglas worked in tandem with other black leaders to oppose it ajohnson and make the case for reconstruction and black rights to citizenship. This is a picture of harper from a book edited by william still. And i want to o show the conclusion of her talk National Salvation which is about racism in the north and south. And begins talking about how black people in philadelphia have a problem using Public Transit racism does not exist. Racism is embodied by andrew njohnson. She says we needed Angie Johnson the country is a Great National to spread himself all over the nation so he might bring a poison of slavery which still lingers in the body politics. What do you do . If you hug it to your bosom and set such a precious thing you cannot put it away rather what you have done with that you throw it aside. So i love that image. He tips the racism out of the National Body andet maybe the nation will be better. Its a danger to the republics. I quicklyus summarize its a really fascinating speech. That does a lot of different things. He says the beginning drive note man because innkeeper know he is concerned about black suffrage. And then he goes after johnson also raises questions about constitution are not enough checks what happens when man and becomes president . How are we going to stop he attacks the one man and points to the president ial veto of power and patronage as too much unchecked power to a bad man. Hes not talking just about johnson he is saying in the future we could have some bad men who might want to become kings like johnson he also sets forth a theory people thought was kind of funny. The people that Andre