The impeachment of President Andrew Johnson was defeated in the Senate by one vote. Although the impeachment was an attempt by the Radical Republicans to rid themselves of Johnson and take over Reconstruction of the South, 7 Republican Senators, including Fessenden voted against Johnson's removal from office. In this cartoon Fessenden is being taken to task for his vote by Benjamin Butler, one of the backers of the impeachment. Benjamin Wade, who was President pro tempore of the Senate at the time, stood next in line of succession. He not only voted against Johnson, but was so sure of the President's removal that he had already begun picking his Cabinet before the vote was taken.
