After some heated debate, Congress confirmed Tyler's interpretation that he was, indeed, the new president. In both houses, unsuccessful amendments were offered to strike the word 'president' in favor of language including the term 'vice president' to refer to Tyler. Mississippi Senator Robert J. Walker, in opposition, stated that the idea that Tyler was still vice president and could preside over the Senate was absurd. Tyler never wavered from his conviction that he was the rightful president; when his political opponents sent correspondence to the White House addressed to the 'vice president' or 'acting president', Tyler had it returned unopened.
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