When Republicans Were Radical: Good stuff

» Brian Tubbs - Good stuff

I need to spend more time here, Melanie. Good article. It is interesting to think how things would've been different had Lincoln not been killed by John Wilkes Booth.

One question: You made a reference in the beginning to Johnson being a Republican. Did he ever actually join the Republican Party? My understanding, and I may be wrong, was that he remained a Democrat, but threw his lot in with Lincoln's "Constitutional Union" party of 1864 - basically a "Big Tent" version of the Republican Party, structured to appeal to Democrats (like Johnson) who were loyal to the Union. But, perhaps Johnson did join the Republicans. I may be wrong. Wouldn't be the first time. :-)

-- posted by Brian Tubbs