39th United States Congress
The 39th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C., from March 4, 1865, to March 4, 1867, during Abraham Lincoln's final month as president, and the first two years of the administration of his successor, Andrew Johnson.
United States Capitol (1877)
President of the Senate Andrew Johnson, until April 15, 1865
Senate President pro tempore Lafayette S. Foster, until March 2, 1867
Senate President pro tempore Benjamin F. Wade, from March 2, 1867
Presidency of Andrew Johnson
The presidency of Andrew Johnson began on April 15, 1865, when Andrew Johnson became President of the United States upon the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, and ended on March 4, 1869. He had been Vice President of the United States for only six weeks when he succeeded to the presidency. The 17th United States president, Johnson was a member of the Democratic Party before the Civil War and had been Lincoln's 1864 running mate on the National Union ticket, which was supported by Republicans and War Democrats. Johnson took office as the Civil War came to a close, and his presidency was dominated by the aftermath of the war. As president, Johnson attempted to build his own party of Southerners and conservative Northerners, but he was unable to unite his supporters into a new party. Republican Ulysses S. Grant succeeded Johnson as president.
Presidency of Andrew Johnson
Contemporary woodcut of Johnson being sworn in by Chief Justice Chase as Cabinet members look on, April 15, 1865
BEP engraved portrait of Johnson as president
Carte de visite depicting President Johnson encircled by portraits of William Seward, Edwin Stanton, James Speed, William Dennison, Gideon Welles, and John P. Usher (U-M William L. Clements Library via JSTOR)