Reviews
PRAISE FOR C.S.A.:CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA "A terrific and imaginative work."--Jay Winik, author of April 1865 "A compelling, original, finely crafted and very satisfying story that will keep you turning pages."--John C. Waugh, author of Reelecting Lincoln, in The Washington Post, Former Washingtonian magazine editor (and Louis Freeh's coauthor) Means recreates the first weeks of the presidency of a man who had never expected to find himself in that role. Initially, Andrew Johnson had nothing but harsh words for Southern planters and other erstwhile Confederates. But on May 29, 1865, he offered amnesty to any Confederate supporters who would take an oath of loyalty to the Constitution. Though Radical Republicans in Congress were furious that Johnson had unilaterally made this decision, the New York Times praised the president. Means suggests that Johnson took this bold step because he thought it was faithful to "Lincolnian doctrine." But Means is not out to make a hero of Johnson-quite the opposite. He believes Reconstruction was a failure. Intended "to forge a new postwar South," it "instead perpetuated the old one." Johnson's amnesty, for instance, paved the way for the establishment of discriminatory Black Codes in the South. Though Means doesn't add much to our understanding of Johnson, he has done history buffs a service by offering an impassioned, easy-to-read introduction to the 17th president. (Those who want to go deeper should read Eric L. Mc-Kitrick's majestic Andrew Johnson and Reconstruction). (Nov.) Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information., PRAISE FOR C.S.A.: CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA "A terrific and imaginative work."--Jay Winik, author of April 1865 "A compelling, original, finely crafted and very satisfying story that will keep you turning pages."--John C. Waugh, author of Reelecting Lincoln, in The Washington Post, PRAISE FOR C.S.A.: CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA "A terrific and imaginative work."--Jay Winik, author of April 1865 "A compelling, original, finely crafted and very satisfying story that will keep you turning pages."--John C. Waugh, author of Reelecting Lincoln, in The Washington Post, Andrew Johnson has certainly been one of the most reviled men to ascend to the presidency. He was a rigid, pugnacious man incapable of exercising the give-and-take so necessary for a politician. He was also a vile racist determined to block efforts by Republicans to advance the social and political rights of emanipated slaves. Yet, as this revisionist and provocative examination reveals, Johnson provided vital service to the nation in the harrowing weeks after Lincoln's assassination. Some of the qualities that doomed Johnson as a politician aided him in the opening days of his presidency. Johnson stood firm against both politicians and mobs that demanded "vengeance" for the murder of Lincoln. When Tecumseh Sherman far exceeded his authority by negotiating overly generous surrender terms with Confederate general Joseph Johnston, the president justifiably repudiated the surrender terms. Means does not present Johnson as a particularly admirable or even likable man, but his attempt to provide some balance to the usual, overwhelmingly negative picture is a worthwhile effort. Jay FreemanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved, PRAISE FORC.S.A.: CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA "A terrific and imaginative work."--Jay Winik, author ofApril 1865 "A compelling, original, finely crafted and very satisfying story that will keep you turning pages."--John C. Waugh, author ofReelecting Lincoln,inThe Washington Post
