 Once he began, however, the fiery oratory that had once helped his political fortunes now sank them.Initially, Johnson was enthusiastically received, particularly in Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York.According to Johnson biographer Hans Trefousse, at each stop on the tour he had delivered

The press nonetheless gave him overwhelmingly positive coverage throughout the first leg of the tour (although the circumstances made his customary introduction—"Fellow citizens, it is not for the purpose of making speeches that I now appear before you"—a particular laugh line).