More from David in TN on Tonight’s TCM President’s Day Movie Special, William Dieterle, John L. Balderston, Wells Root and Milton Gunzburg’s Tennessee Johnson (1942) Starring Van Heflin, at 3 a.m. Tuesday

By David in TN
monday, february 20, 2023 at 2:30:00 p.m. est

Nicholas,

I should have made special mention of Tennessee Johnson (1942). It’s a favorite of mine and a special treat, if you haven’t seen it before.

Lincoln picked Johnson as VP in 1864 because he wanted a Southern Democrat who supported the Union. The Booth-led conspirators wanted to get Johnson, as well as Lincoln (and Seward), but the man they sent was frightened and ran away. Historians note it was strange to send a coward to kill Andrew Johnson who carried a gun and was known for his physical bravery.

Johnson as president tried to bring the South back into the Union, which he claimed Lincoln had wanted. His opponents impeached Johnson for firing a cabinet member, which Johnson felt he had the right to do, according to the Constitution. Until the current communist historians came about, the consensus was Johnson was right.

Johnson beat the impeachment and came back to the Senate as Tennessee’s elected Senator before his death.

Van Heflin gives a great performance.