Andrew Johnson
Born in 1808, Andrew Johnson was by no means privileged. He grew up in a log cabin in North Carolina, and could hardly read until he was 17. At that time, his wife taught him to be literate, and he was quickly climbing the political ladder in Greensville, Tennessee. After serving both in the House of Representatives and the Senate, Johnson ran into trouble. He was, like many other Southerners, pro slavery, but he didn't believe the issue was cause for secession. Thus, he became the only Southern senator to hold a seat in the Union after the secession of Tennessee. He then ran with Abraham Lincoln during Lincoln's reelection campaign. In 1865, after Lincoln's death, Johnson became president. He was widely held to be one of the worst presidents ever and there was even a sizable attempt to impeach him.
"The goal is to strive for a poor government but a rich people"- Andrew Johnson
"The goal is to strive for a poor government but a rich people"- Andrew Johnson