New Updates
• Two videos and six stories were added to the Multimedia page on January 6, 2009.
• Nine stories and four videos were added to the Multimedia page on December 16.
• A video was added to the Multimedia page on October 27.
• Five articles were added to the Multimedia page on October 27.
• The calendar was updated on May 29. 24 articles and 6 videos were added to the Multimedia page.
• A video report was added to the Multimedia page on Apr. 25.
News Updates
Year-Long Celebration Kicked Off With Saturday Event At Museum
Daniel Luther portrays Andrew Johnson as he speaks Saturday afternoon to an attentive crowd at Johnson’s 199th birthday celebration. The crowd gave Luther a standing ovation after his presentation, called “Tennessee Tailor.” The birthday celebration was the inaugural event for the Andrew Johnson Bicentennial Celebration that will continue throughout 2008. Sun photo by Jim Feltman.
Source: The Greeneville Sun
by Amy Rose
Date: 2007-12-31
Cake, candles, singing, and history lessons were all part of President Andrew Johnson's 199th birthday celebration Saturday afternoon at the Nathanael Greene Museum.
The inaugural event of the year-long Andrew Johnson Bicentennial Celebration followed a well-attended wreath-laying ceremony at Johnson's grave in the Andrew Johnson National Cemetery.
Attending the two-hour birthday celebration were nearly 200 Greene Countians of all ages, including Summer Lawson of Baileyton, a 12-year-old Civil War reenactor.
Lawson was dressed as a Confederate sergeant and drummer boy, or, as she put it, "drummer person."
She said she was glad to take part in the inaugural event, because she realized that she was "celebrating heritage."
Luther As 'Tennessee Tailor'
A highlight of the birthday celebration was the presentation of "Tennessee Tailor," a presentation written and performed by Daniel Luther, and conceived and directed by James-Ben Stockton.
Luther's portrayal of Johnson included a speech from the end of Johnson's term as president, a reading of Johnson's final amnesty proclamation for Southerners, and the recounting of Johnson's 60th birthday celebration in the White House.
The actual 1868 birthday celebration included 300 of his grandchildren's friends and schoolmates.
The fact that his grandchildren were with him at the White House during his presidency, Luther said as President Johnson, "was the only pleasure I had in occupying the executive manner."
At the end of his term, the presentation indicated, Johnson was glad not to be seeking political office.
"For one who has spent so much time of his life on the stump, my current status is one of much pleasure," Luther said.
More than once, Luther recalled in his presentation, which was drawn from actual Andrew Johnson speeches and writings, how as vice president was suddenly thrust into the presidency after the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln -- an office in which Johnson did not feel at home.
Luther said Johnson had tried to represent the interests of the people and had been "devoted to our amazing genius of democracy and its foundation in our Constitution."
He recalled how Johnson was denounced as a traitor for initially killing the secession movement in Tennessee, how he was insulted in every possible way, and received threats against his life.
But those who had denounced him, Luther said, later proved to be loyal to his beliefs in defending the Constitution.
"Give me the Constitution of my country, unimpaired," Luther said.
Luther also spoke about how Johnson made a modest living to support his family and how the "charms" of the White House had not affected him.
He said he had strived to speak what he thought with honesty, and his reward was knowing that he had served his country and his family.
"I have done my duty," he said.
The crowd listened intently and responded with laughter during several lighthearted moments in the presentation.
One of those moments came when Luther joked that his deliverance from the office of President would be the greatest emancipation.
He said he felt more pride in being just an American citizen than in being "President over the ruins of a violated Constitution."
"My desire above all," Luther said in the presentation, "is to restore the country, bind up its wounds and make it once again a union."
As he gave the departing speech in Washington, Luther said Johnson wanted to "regain my strength for the service of my home, of which I have been so long absent."
The large audience responded to the lengthy presentation/performance with a standing ovation.
Period Music Performed
The celebration, which was centered mainly in the Nathanael Greene Museum's auditorium, began and ended with period music performed by the Tyros.
Band member and historian Dr. Robert Orr said he named the band Tyros because the word represents another name for a Civil War hero.
In addition to guitarist Orr, the band includes guitarist John Brown and his wife, vocalist Darlene McCleish, and flutist Charles "Skip" Lane.
They performed a song called "Long-Tail Blue" about a suit at Johnson's shop that men could buy "if you want the girls to love you."
They also performed two Civil War-era songs, including "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day."
Orr explained that the song was written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow as a way to escape depression after finding out that his friend was severely wounded in the war.
Welcoming comments were made by the Rev. Dr. Dan Donaldson, board president of the Nathanael Greene Museum, who also led prayer; by Earl Fletcher, director of the Nathanael Greene Museum; and by Lizzie Watts, superintendent of the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site.
Donaldson thanked God for the life of Andrew Johnson, "one of our own," and for the local community's ability to "celebrate his life and his contributions to the life of this nation."
Fletcher introduced Watts, who said she is thrilled that the celebration will share and preserve the history of Johnson's life for all generations.
She said the yearlong Bicentennial Celebration will showcase Johnson's positive beliefs, his faith in the nation and his love for Greeneville.
Emancipation Day
Also speaking briefly was LeRoy Ripley, co-chairman of the African-American Task Force of Northeast Tennessee.
Ripley noted that if Johnson had not freed his own slaves, Emancipation Day on Aug. 8 would not be celebrated each year.
Ripley announced that the task force will have its second Emancipation Day conference April 25-27 in Greeneville as part of the Johnson Bicentennial celebration.
He thanked State Rep. David Hawk, R-5th, of Greeneville, for working toward the state legislature's recent passage of the annual Emancipation Day observance in Tennessee.
Prints, Calendar Available
Fletcher unveiled the first of four commemorative prints by artist Julius Pratt that are being sold as part of the Bicentennial Celebration. The first print, which is available for $20, features Johnson's tailor shop.
Fletcher also told the crowd that the 2008 Andrew Johnson Bicentennial Calendar highlights many of the planned activities and important events in Johnson's life.
The graphics used in the calendar are scenes of Greene County and other areas that had an impact on the growth of Johnson.
The calendars are available at the museum for $7 and at the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site Visitor Center for $10.
Proceeds from the sale of the calendar will continue to support the educational programming of the Bicentennial Celebration.
Watts: 'A Great Day'
Supt. Watts said afterwards that it had been "a great day," and Jim Small, chief of operations of the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site said the birthday celebration was "unquestionably" a successful event, adding that the yearlong celebration is "off to a great start."
Small shared copies of a brand new brochure called "From Tailor to President, a Bicentennial Birthday Party."
Part of the full-color multi-page brochure states, "Throughout 2008, special events will peel away the layers of complexity surrounding Johnson's life to reveal the true statesman and provide a deeper appreciation of Johnson's journey from 'tailor to president.' Please join the community of Greeneville as we celebrate and rediscover Andrew Johnson, our 17th president."
Small is co-chair with Carlos Whaley of the Andrew Johnson Bicentennial Steering Committee.
The goals of the committee are to educate and create a stronger interest in Andrew Johnson and build onto a solid foundation for tourism in Greene County.
Following Luther's presentation, the crowd sang "Happy Birthday," and Luther blew out three candles shaped like "199" atop a large birthday cake.
The crowd was given about 25 minutes to have refreshments and tour the museum.
New Presidential Displays
Fletcher encouraged members of the crowd to visit the museum's newly remodeled Presidential Gallery.
Inside the Presidential Gallery is a walking stick that belonged to Johnson and a suit he sewed for a friend's wedding.
The walking stick is propped against a fireplace in an elaborate display of period items and Johnson family artifacts.
Hanging along one wall of the Presidential Gallery is a chronology of Johnson's life.
Also displayed is illustrated information on Johnson's humble beginnings, President Abraham Lincoln's assassination, the Civil War, the U.S. Constitution and Johnson's impeachment trial.
A new display in the museum's main hallway shows a detailed family tree with photos of Johnson's children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
'Johnson's Life' Presented
Following the museum tours and refreshments, the crowd gathered again in the auditorium for "Andrew Johnson's Life," a PowerPoint presentation by Whaley, co-chair of the bicentennial steering committee.
Whaley's 20-minute presentation included the historical setting for Johnson's life and details of the legacy left by Johnson's presidency.
Other information in the presentation focused on Johnson as a masterful stump speaker and successful politician, how he fought to keep Tennessee in the Union and his uncompromising position on restoring the Union.
Whaley will be presenting the PowerPoint presentation at various times through the yearlong Bicentennial Celebration.
The 199th birthday celebration concluded with period music by Tyros and was followed by the annual membership meeting of the Nathanael Greene Museum.
The celebration was sponsored by the Andrew Johnson Bicentennial Celebration Steering Committee, the National Park Service, the Nathanael Greene Museum, and the Greene County Democratic Women.
Numerous community events to celebrate the bicentennial of Johnson's birth have been scheduled throughout 2008 by the Andrew Johnson Bicentennial Steering Committee.
Click here to go back to all news articles.