Political
Admission Ticket to the Impeachment Trial of President Andrew Johnson
May 18th, 1868-Dated, United States Senate for the Impeachment Trial of President Andrew Johnson, Engraved Admission Ticket to the Gallery, With Its Original Stub, Choice Very Fine.
This original Admission Ticket measures about 5" long x 3" tall and is printed in violet upon heavy card stock. It is complete, including its left side stub which has been creased at the fold line, the reverse is blank and very clean. It was printed by Philp & Solomons of Washington, D.C. The text is printed in brown ink and reads:

"U. S. Senate - Impeachment of the President - Admit the bearer - May 18th, 1868 - Gallery"

It is signed in print by the Sergeant at Arms, George F. Brown. This Ticket is for Impeachment Trial of President Andrew Johnson proceedings in the Senate Chamber taking place on May 18th, 1868. A crisp colorful and high quality example of this very historic and monumental American political event. Very scarce having its original Ticket Stub intact.
May 5th was the next to last day of the Trial proceedings - on April 20 the President's attorney's concluded the presentation of their case for the defense and on April 22 Closing arguments began.

On May 6th closing arguments by the defense attorneys were concluded and the first vote on the Articles of Impeachment was scheduled for May 12th (later postponed to May 16th). When the roll was called on May 16th, 1868 no one was quite sure how the final tally would come out. There were 35 solid votes for impeachment and 18 for acquittal (a 2/3 majority or 36 votes were necessary for a conviction) but a young Radical Republican Senator from Kansas named Edmund G. Ross refused to say how he would vote on the Articles of Impeachment.

Despite monumental pressure from fellow Radicals prior to the first vote, and dire warnings that a vote for acquittal would end his political career, Ross stood up at the appropriate moment and quietly announced "Not Guilty" effectively ending the impeachment trial.