Abraham Lincoln had two vice presidents during his presidency due to the political circumstances of the time. His first vice president was Hannibal Hamlin, who served from 1861 to 1865. Hamlin was chosen to balance the ticket geographically and politically, as he was a Republican from Maine, which helped Lincoln appeal to voters in the Northeast.
However, as the 1864 election approached, the political landscape had changed significantly due to the ongoing Civil War. To broaden his appeal and promote national unity, Lincoln decided to replace Hamlin with Andrew Johnson, a Democrat from Tennessee. Johnson was a Southern Unionist, and his inclusion on the ticket was seen as a way to attract support from War Democrats and border states.
After Lincoln’s re-election in 1864, Johnson became vice president. Tragically, Lincoln was assassinated in April 1865, and Johnson succeeded him as president. This unique situation led to Lincoln having two vice presidents during his time in office.