who was vice president under lincoln?
Andrew Johnson Hannibal Hamlin
contradiction
 Richard Mentor Johnson ( October 17 , 1780 [ a ] – November 19 , 1850 ) was the ninth Vice President of the United States , serving in the administration of Martin Van Buren ( 1837 – 41 ) . He is the only vice president ever elected by the United States Senate under the provisions of the Twelfth Amendment . Johnson also represented Kentucky in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate ; he began and ended his political career in the Kentucky House of Representatives . 

entailment
 Johnson served as Vice President from March 4 , 1837 , to March 4 , 1841 . His term was largely unremarkable , and he enjoyed little influence with President Van Buren . His penchant for wielding his power for his own interests did not abate . He lobbied the Senate to promote Samuel Milroy , whom he owed a favor , to the position of Indian agent . When Lewis Tappan requested presentation of an abolitionist petition to the Senate , Johnson , who was still a slaveholder , declined the request . 

entailment
 One of Breckinridge 's final acts as vice @-@ president was announcing the vote of the Electoral College to a joint session of Congress on February 13 , 1861 . Rumors abounded that he would tamper with the vote to prevent Lincoln 's election . Knowing that some legislators planned to attend the session armed , Breckinridge asked Winfield Scott to post guards in and around the chambers . One legislator raised a point of order , requesting that the guards be ejected , but Breckinridge refused to sustain it ; the electoral vote proceeded , and Breckinridge announced Lincoln 's election as president . After Lincoln 's arrival in Washington , D.C. , on February 24 , Breckinridge visited him at the Willard Hotel . After making a valedictory address on March 4 , he swore in Hannibal Hamlin as his successor as vice president ; Hamlin then swore in Breckinridge and the other incoming senators . 

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 The usual tradition was for the leading figure of the winning party to be offered the position of Secretary of State , the most senior Cabinet post . Seward was that man and around December 12 , the vice president @-@ elect , Maine Senator Hannibal Hamlin , offered Seward the position on Lincoln 's behalf . At Weed 's advice , Seward was slow to formally accept , doing so on December 28 , 1860 , though well before Inauguration Day , March 4 , 1861 . Lincoln remained in Illinois until mid @-@ February , and he and Seward communicated by letter . 

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 By July 1803 , citizens of the western states , desiring more representation in the federal government and intent on breaking the pattern of nominating a Virginians and New Yorkers for most important federal offices , were advocating Breckinridge 's nomination as vice president in the 1804 presidential election . Thomas Jefferson was expected to be reelected , but most Democratic @-@ Republicans had grown disenchanted with Vice President Aaron Burr ; he would not be Jefferson 's running mate . Breckinridge 's service as Senate floor leader made him a natural choice . 
