Andrew Johnson Was Almost Killed Along With Abraham Lincoln

John Wilkes Booth, a supporter of the Confederacy, shot and severely wounded President Lincoln that evening at Ford's Theatre. The President was shot as part of a plot to kill Lincoln, Johnson, and Seward on the same night. Seward narrowly escaped with his injuries. Atzerodt, a friend of Booth's, set up shop in a neighboring hotel where he knew Johnson was staying at the same time as Booth was getting ready to murder the President. Atzerodt tried to summon the confidence to knock on Johnson's door and shoot him. Atzerodt was unsuccessful, though. Instead, he went for a stroll. Johnson was awakened by Leonard J. Farwell, a fellow boarder at the Kirkwood House, who told him of Lincoln's shooting.

Atzerodt admitted to his involvement in the crime and was executed on July 7 of that year, following the killing of Lincoln and a wave of arrests. Johnson, who is currently the president, approved an executive order mandating the man's demise.