Andrew Johnson Facts

RIG OWNER SAYS BP IS AT FAULT FOR GULF SPILL

Transocean said BP failed to assess and communicate the risks surrounding the well, accused the company of using a “faulty” well design and, along with contractor Halliburton, did not adequately test the quality of cement around the well. The cement’s failure allowed gas to escape, leading to the explosion, and BP’s plan to close down the well “created unnecessary risk”.

The two companies are locked in legal battle over the world’s worst-ever oil spill and the death of 11 workers in the explosion, with BP questioning Transocean’s blowout preventer used on the rig. The device was supposed to close down the well in an emergency.

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BP said: “Transocean has cherrypicked the facts in support of its litigation strategy.” Swiss-based Transocean said its internal investigation had found the rig’s blowout preventer was maintained properly and its workers did not see gas shooting up the well until it was too late.

Dan Farr, who is leading the company’s investigation, said BP had given the rig crew “bad information” that hid signs of trouble. BP shares fell ½p to 445¼p. The findings apparently contradict a US Coast Guard report two months ago that said Transocean contributed to the disaster because of a lax safety culture and poorly maintained equipment on the rig. An American government report spread the blame around, saying several companies were at fault, although overall responsibility eventually resided with BP.

The British oil giant’s own investigation also said failings from several companies led to the disaster on April 20 last year. The clean-up costs from the spill are estimated at more than $41billion (£25billion). BP has already struck deals with one of its partners in the well, Mitsui, and one of the contractors, which will contribute a combined $1.2billion towards the costs.

However, the dispute with Transocean concerns key issues over what caused the explosion directly. The disaster cost then BP chief executive Tony Hayward his job and he has now been replaced by Bob Dudley, who has insisted BP was not the only company at fault and has urged others to “step up and meet some of the obligations from the accident”.

Mitsui has already agreed to pay $1.1billion towards the cost of the clean up, while contractor Weatherford International will pay $75million.

Andrew Johnson was drunk at his vice-presidential ... - OMG Facts

Johnson was actually nursing a hangover from the night before. Naturally, prior to the inaugural ceremonies, he made sure to have 3 glasses of whiskey for breakfast in the Vice President’s office. After giving a brief awkward speech about his humble origins, Johnson took the oath of office and stumbled through the swearing-in of a few of the new Senators before giving up because he was too drunk.

Fascinating facts from American history

Andrew Johnson, America's 17th president

Expulsion of Mr. Bright, speech of Hon. Andrew Johnson, of Tennessee, in the Senate of the United States, Friday, January 31, 1862

Facts about the presidents

The great impeachment and trial of Andrew Johnson, president of the United States ; with the whole of the preliminary proceedings in the House of representatives, and in the Senate of the United States ; together with the eleven articles of impeachment, and the whole of the proceedings in the court of impeachment, with the verbatim evidence of all the witnesses, and cross-examinations of them, with the speeches of the managers and the counsel onboth sides, with the decisions of Chief Justice Chase, and the verdict of the court ; with portraits of Andrew Johnson ; Chief Justice Chase; General U. S. Grant; Hon. Edwin M. Stanton ; Hon. Benjamin F. Wade ; Hon. Benjamin F. Butler; Hon. Thaddeus Stevens ; Major-Gen. Lorenzo Thomas