Primary sourceNewspaper article15 April 1865

The Succession

15 April 1865

A New York Times report from April 1865 describing Andrew Johnson's swearing-in as president after Lincoln's assassination.

This newspaper report documents Johnson's inauguration as president immediately after Lincoln's assassination.

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Source: Wikisource

About this source

What it is

This is a newspaper report published in The New York Times on 15 April 1865, describing how Andrew Johnson was sworn in as President of the United States by Chief Justice Chase following President Lincoln's death. The text survives today in digitized newspaper archives.

Why it matters

This article captures a pivotal and chaotic moment in American history: the sudden transfer of presidential power after an assassination. It shows how the press reported Johnson's first words and actions as president, giving historians a near-immediate record of the transition.

Look closer

Why might the newspaper quote Johnson's exact words about trusting in God?
What does the speed and detail of this report tell you about how news traveled in 1865?
What is left out of this short dispatch that you might want to know more about?

This newspaper article is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Andrew Johnson on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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