Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 October 1901 — VICE-PRESIDENTS WHO SUCCEEDED TO THE PRESIDENCY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

VICE-PRESIDENTS WHO SUCCEEDED TO THE PRESIDENCY

Those Who Have Been Effected to the High Office by the Deaths of Chief Executives

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT Is not only the youngest Vice President who has succeeded to the Presidency, but the youngest Chief Magistrate our country ever had. He Is not yet 43 years old. Tyler and Arthur were each 51 when their chiefs died; Fillmore was 50, when Taylor laid down the cares of life and Johnson was

57, when Lincoln was assassinated. The ages of our other Presidents when they assumed the duties of the high office were; Grant, next youngest to Roosevelt, 47; Pierce and Garfield, each 49; Polk, 50; Harrison, “Old Tippecanoe,” the oldest

man ever chosen to the Presidency, 68; Lincoln, 52; McKinley, 53; Hayes, 54; Van Buren and Benjamin Harrison, each 55; Washington, 57; Jefferson, John Quincy Adams, and Madison, each 58; Monroe, 59; John Adams and Jackson, 62, each; Buchauan, 66; Cleveland, the only living ex-President, 48. He Is now 64 and enjoying robust health. A short review of the Vice Presidents who have become elevated to the Presidency by the deaths of the Chief Executives may be of Interest now. “Tippecanoe and Tyler Too” was the political slogan heralded by the victorious Whigs during the campaign of 1840. It made Gen. William Henry Harrison President and John Tyler Vice President. Just a month after the inauguration the President died and John Tyler became the 10th President of tho United States. He was born in Virginia in 1790 and died in his native States in 1862, when civil war was rending his country. He was a graduate of William and Mary College and at the age of 19 was admitted to the bar. He was fond of reading history, a lover of poetry and music, and, like Thomas Jefferson, an accomplished violinist. Although opposed to the Whigs, he was not a supporter of the radical policy of Jackson, “Old Hickory,” and, therefore, occupied to a certain extent an independent position. Despite this, the State of Virginia always stood by him, and for this reason he was a political power. When the Whigs nominated Harrison for President they were happy to accept Tyler as his running mate,

believing that such a course would attract all factions opposed to the Jacksonian Democracy. The result of the election showed that good judgment had been exercised, but when President Harrison died the Whigs found that Tyler was not In ac-

cord with their ideas. He had opinions of his own and a determination to carry them out. He came into direct conflict with Henry Clay, the Whig leader, on bills relating to financial affairs and In his contention received no support from the Democrats. At one time bis entire cabinet, with the exception of Daniel Webster, Secretary of State, resigned. He was also at variance with the dominant party on the tariff question and his administration was one of political strife. The most notable events were the signing of the Webster-Ashburton treaty with Great Britain and the adoption of the resolutions admitting Texas Into the Union. TAYLOR’S SUCCESSOR. Millard Fillmore was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., in ISOO, and died In Buffalo, N. Y., in 1874. At the time he succeeded Taylor he was nearer in accord with the policy of the administration than any other Vice President who ever succeeded to the Presidency through the death of his chief with the exception of Roosevelt, yet only a few months elapsed when dissensions arose, and near the close of his administration he was unable to secure a nomination from his party. It Is prob-

able thnt his administration was the most tempestuous, politically, of any since Lincoln’s, through which this country ever passed. The slavery question agitated the country and such giants as Clay, Calhoun. Hayne and Douglas were In conflict

The signing of the fugitive slave law and Its attempted enforcement wer© the acts which made him unpopular and prevented his nomination. Thus one Incident might turn the tide of popularity against a President and do away with any possibility of his becoming his own successor. His cabinet was In entire accord with him throughout his administration, and the country at bis retirement was enjoying peace and prosperity. Despite this he could not command 20 votes In the Whig convention of 1852. In 1850 he was the nominee of the American party for President, and only the State of Maryland gave him Its electoral vote. Andrew Johnson, who succeeded Lincoln, the first of our country’s trio of

trade. When 21 he was elected an Alderman of Greenville, Tenn., where he had moved, and thenceforth was active in politics. Not until he had been in Congress could he write with ease. He was always a leader in advocating what he believed to be the

martyred Presidents, was bom in Raleigh, N. C., Dec. 29, 1808, and died near Carter’s Station, Tenn., July 31, 1875. His parents were very poor and when he was 4 years old his father died from injuries received while saving another-from drowning. He waa taught to read by his fellow workmen in a tailor shop, where he was an apprentice. Shortly before he was 21 he was married and his wife, being a talented woman, taught him writing and read to him while he worked at hla

rights of the great masses of the people. He strongly opposed secession, but was not an out and out Republican. He might be termed a Douglas Democrat. He was a powerful orator and had a commanding presence. Because of his services in maintaining the authority of the government' during the early years of the rebellion, he was considered an available candidate for the Vice Presidency on the ticket with Lincoln in 1864 and it was believed that he would attract to the ticket the support of those people who did not wish to ally themselves with the Republican party, but who were opposed to the principles of the secessionists. Shortly after President Lincoln’s death, Johnson was sworn in as Chief Magistrate by Chief Justice Chase. He made no pledges, but it was known that he tvas not in accord with the pacific policy of Lincoln in bringing about the reconstruction of the Southern States. He said, “Treason is a crime and must be punished.” This was the keynote of his policy and it soon brought him in conflict with the leaders of the Republican party. So wide did the breach become that impeachment proceedings were instituted and President Johnson was sustained by only one vote. ARTHUR’S ADMINISTRATION. When President Garfield died from the wounds of an assassin’s bullet, the Republican party was divided into two powerful factions, known as the stalwarts and half-breeds, the former led by Roseoe Conkllng and the latter by James G. Blaine. The martyred President had favored the Blaine contingent while Arthur was allied with Conkllng and his followers. Therefore, when the Vice President succeeded to the Presidency, the political policy, at least, of the administration changed, but despite his large following and the power of political patronage, he could not control the next Republican National convention. He made a good President, however, and the country enjoyed peace and prosperity while he was at the helm of State.

JOHN TYLER.

MILLARD FILLMORE.

ANDREW JOHNSON.

CHESTER A. ARTHUR.