Presidencies
of William Henry Harrison and John Tyler (American Presidency Series)
by Norma Lois Peterson
Book Description: Wearied by the hotly contested "Log Cabin and Hard
Cider" campaign that unseated the Democratic incumbent, Martin Van Buren,
Harrison succumbed to pneumonia after only one month in office, the first
chief executive to die in the White House. His death precipitated a governmental
crisis, which Vice President John Tyler promptly resolved--to the consternation
of his Whig Party--by claiming the office and title of president, thus
setting a precedent that only later was codified in the Twenty-fifth Amendment
to the Constitution.
Instead of the pliable Harrison, the Whigs confronted in Tyler a tenacious
defender of presidential prerogative and a formidable foe of their plan
to establish congressional supremacy over the executive branch. Threatened
with impeachment, repeatedly exhorted to resign, banished from the Whig
Party, abandoned by his cabinet, and burned in effigy, Tyler stood firm
and maintained the integrity of the presidential office.
Peterson argues that the Tyler administration deserves more credit than
it has received for what was accomplished--and preserved--under difficult
circumstances.
This book is part of the American Presidency Series.
Hardcover: 329 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 1.23 x
9.30 x 6.33
Publisher: Univ Pr of Kansas; (June 1989)
ISBN: 0700604006 |
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