Page "Andrew Johnson" Paragraph 45

As a leading War Democrat and pro-Union southerner, Johnson was an ideal candidate for the Republicans in the national election of 1864, as they sought to enlarge their base to include War Democrats ; they even changed the party name to the National Union Party to reflect this expansion.

Johnson's " unwavering commitment to the Union " was a significant factor in making him Lincoln's choice as vice president on the Union Party's premier ticket that year.

He won the nomination at the party's convention in Baltimore on the second ballot, and thereby replaced incumbent Vice-President Hannibal Hamlin as Lincoln's running mate.

In his speech accepting the nomination, Johnson said that by taking a nominee from a seceding state, " the Union Party declared its belief that the rebellious states are still in the Union, that their loyal citizens are still citizens of the United States.

" He and Lincoln were elected in a landslide victory.