Event Organizers

Busy Spreading

The Word Outside

The Local Area

By NELSON MORAIS

Staff Writer

Officials are reaching beyond Greene County's borders to publicize upcoming events in the bicentennial celebration of President Andrew Johnson in an effort to attract more visitors to the events.

Turnouts to local events already staged this year "have been mixed," said Carlos Whaley, one of the co-chairs of the Bicentennial Celebration Steering Committee.

"We're trying to get more people in other parts of Tennessee through media contacts and presentations to historical groups," Whaley said.

As part of the committee's effort to reach people outside Greene County, Dr. Robert Orr, a local historian, and Whaley were scheduled to give a live interview today on WCYB Channel 5's "Noon Show" in Bristol, Va.

Lizzie Watts, superintendent of the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, estimated that she and others involved with the bicentennial celebration have given more than 200 presentations to community and civic groups in East Tennessee on the history and legacy of President Johnson.

Whaley on Thursday called Johnson "one of the most remarkable leaders" in U.S. history.

Other speakers at Thursday's media conference included Daniel Luther, who portrayed Johnson in character at the conference; Randy Harrell, president of the Greene County Partnership; Orr, an author, educator and historian; and Jim Allen, executive director of the Battle of Blue Springs annual re-enactment.

Orr said President Johnson's achievements have been skewed by many historians who decided to view Johnson and his life through the eyes of the civil rights movement in the 1960s, rather than in the context of the time period in which he lived.

"He (Johnson) had a pretty good reputation (among) scholars until" the 1960s, Orr said.

The media event was designed to encourage attendees to get the word out to more people about the various upcoming events tied to Johnson's life and legacy, according to organizers.

Upcoming events include:

* A presentation of the 1943 Hollywood movie based on the life of Andrew Johnson and titled "Tennessee Johnson" at the Capitol Theatre on Friday, May 16, at 7 p.m. The movie stars Van Heflin, Ruth Hussey and Lionel Barrymore, and will include a commentary by local historian Dr. Robert Orr.

* A Civil War "living history" demonstration on Saturday, May 17 at the Andrew Johnson Homestead on Main Street as Union soldiers "recapture" Greeneville from Confederate forces who "occupied" the city April 19. The re-enactors will camp downtown.

Such events were common between 1861 and 1865 during the Civil War, when the town of Greeneville changed hands between Confederate and Union forces more than 30 times, typically as a result of battles fought elsewhere.

To reflect that fact, the Confederate and Union re-enactors will also return to Greeneville on Saturday, June 21 (Confederate), and on Saturday, July 26 (Union).

On May 17 and on both of the other two Saturdays when re-enactors are present, the "occupying force" will present period lectures and demonstrations at the Homestead on South Main Street and at the Nathanael Greene Museum just across the street.