Accidental Presidents Death, Assassination, Resignation, and Democratic Succession

Accidental presidents, those who assume office as a result of death, assassination or resignation, struggle to establish their legitimacy. This book examines and evaluates the strategies of nine accidental presidents, from John Tyler to Gerald Ford, to demonstrate authority and their capacity to govern.

Introduction: Succession and Democratic Theory PART I: INDEPENDENT STRATEGIES 'I can never consent to being dictated to' : John Tyler 'God save us from Whig Vice Presidents' : Millard Fillmore 'I care not about my dignity' : Andrew Johnson 'there's only one life between that madman and the presidency?' : Theodore Roosevelt PART TWO: HOMAGE STRATEGIES 'He isn't Chet anymore, he's the president' : Chester A. Arthur 'I felt like… all the planets had fallen on me' : Harry S. Truman 'for millions of Americans I was…an illegal usurper' : Lyndon Baines Johnson Minimalist Strategies 'I thought I could swing it' : Calvin Coolidge 'I am acutely aware that you have not elected me as your President' : Gerald Ford Conclusion: Refounding Succession

PHILIP R. ABBOTT is Distinguished University Professor at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, USA.