Andrew Johnson died 6 years after his term in office ended.

He returned to his hometown community where he was revered until the day he died.
Eventually the state historical archives would rewrite his story so the official last word on Johnson provided a reconciliationist and Lost Cause interpretation of history.

John Trotwood Moore spent many of his years as head archivist and historian rewriting Tennessee's history. He also got Johnson's home recognized as a national historical site.

Today, historians at the Johnson home are STILL trying to set the record straight and undo what turn of the 20th century historians did to his legacy. They meet resistance in the community that loved Johnson. Because it's always mattered. Tell a lie enough, it becomes their truth

True story: John Trotwood Moore also facilitated the publication of the Tennessee Civil War Veterans Questionnaire.
It's a hot mess of leading questions that perpetuate tired lies.
Now embedded into Tennessee history.

Fun fact: Johnson scrapbooked. They are held at the Library of Congress. He cut out EVERY article from EVERY newspaper he could get his hands on that mentioned him. Several copies if what folks wrote was positive. He obsessed over what people thought of him.