The first U.S. president to be impeached was Andrew Johnson , in 1868.

Quick Scoop: Core Answer

  • Andrew Johnson, who became president after Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, was impeached by the House of Representatives on February 24, 1868.
  • He was charged mainly with violating the Tenure of Office Act by trying to remove Secretary of War Edwin Stanton without Senate approval.
  • Johnson went to trial in the Senate but was ultimately acquitted, staying in office by just one vote short of the required two‑thirds to remove him.

Mini Background: Why It Mattered

  • Johnson’s impeachment came during the tense Reconstruction era after the Civil War, when he clashed bitterly with the Republican-controlled Congress over how to rebuild the South and protect formerly enslaved people.
  • The Tenure of Office Act—central to his impeachment—was passed over his veto to limit his power to fire certain officials and is now widely viewed as a highly political measure.

Later Impeachments (For Context)

  • Only a few other presidents have been impeached: Bill Clinton in 1998 and Donald Trump twice, in 2019 and 2021; none were removed from office by the Senate.
  • Richard Nixon was never formally impeached; he resigned in 1974 as impeachment became almost certain, which is why he is not on the official list of impeached presidents.

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