President Andrew Johnson had long wanted to dismiss the Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton. Stanton was the only member of Johnson's cabinet who supported the Radical Republicans' program for reconstruction. On August 12, Johnson suspended Stanton. In his place, Johnson appointed the popular General Ulysses S. Grant Secretary of War.
Congress overruled Stanton's suspension and Grant resigned his position.
Ignoring Congress, Johnson formally dismissed Stanton on February 21, 1868