![]() * He was a great success, however, in the military. He failed at farming, real estate, in his parent's leather business, and later in life as a broker with his son. * Grant was not successful in the business world. According to Grant, "S" was therefore an initial that stood for absolutely nothing. Officials at West Point informed Grant that he'd have to change his name if he wanted to attend the prestigious school. When Ohio Congressman Thomas Hamer nominated him to attend West Point, he mistakenly named him Ulysses S. * Ulysses S Grant was named Hiram Ulysses Grant at birth. Facts to Support the Ulysses S Grant Poem: Military Success Even after he retired the presidency and entered his son's brokerage firm, he was plagued with scandal int he business world as well. While honest himself, he had a hard time controlling people in his administration. His two terms in office were wracked with scandal. Unfortunately, military success does not necessarily translate to the same in politics. Grant was a successful general in the Civil War, which made him well known nationally. Ulysses S Grant Facts 18th US President Term: 1869-1877 Political Party: Republican Born: April 27, 1822, Point Pleasant, Ohio Died: July 23, 1885, Wilton, New York Married: Julia Boggs Dent Grant, 1848-1885 Poem and Art by Denise Rodgers Copyright©Denise Rodgers Permissions And here is a secret: He's now in Grant's tomb! The scandals were cause of his legacy's doom. The outlook for ethics was terribly bleak. So strong when at war, but in office, so weak. They robbed from the Indians out in the West, took government monies, put Grant to the test. His friend brought on om price-fixing gold to pocketing taxes. Though honest himself with a strong will to lead, his terms were a magnet for fraud and for greed. He also executed a successful foreign policy and was responsible for improving Anglo-American relations.A Well-Meaning Man A Ulysses S Grant Poem A Civil War hero, he won when he ran and came to the White House, a well-meaning man. Still, in the areas of Native American policy, civil service reform, and African American rights, he took steps that few had attempted. He was a natural leader on the battlefield but was not an especially effective leader of his country. He was such a successful general that his failings as President seem hard to comprehend. Ultimately, President Grant remains somewhat of an enigma in American history. And his loyalty to those who served him prevented him from ruthlessly purging his administration of ineffective or corrupt politicians. He believed that his more straightforward approach was superior but his inability or unwillingness to play the political game led him to become involved with people of an unsavory reputation. Grant's disdain for politics might be responsible for some of the corruption in his administration. Still, his inability to clean up his own administration was a blight on his presidential record. ![]() Despite the scandals that arose during his tenure, Grant was never personally involved with any of them, and his honesty and personal integrity were never questioned. The Grant administration was also routinely labeled one of the most corrupt in U.S. Ultimately much of the country abandoned African Americans to segregation and discrimination but Grant was not responsible for that failure. He worked hard to ensure the passage of the Fifteenth Amendment and tried to make it possible for blacks to vote. He fought to protect the rights of African Americans more than any other nineteenth-century President. Only more recently have historians begun to appreciate Grant's commitment to African Americans. For many years, his presidency was viewed against the backdrop of Southern resentment toward Reconstruction. Nevertheless, Grant's motives and efforts as President were admirable and noteworthy. Congress, especially the Senate, had seized the reins of power, and the presidency would not regain its stature until the turn of the twentieth century. The Grant years finished what the Johnson years had begun: a significant weakening of the American presidency. At the same time, he did not really understand politics, which hindered his effectiveness as President, and he believed in the supremacy of the legislative branch. He came into office wanting to serve all the American people and was determined to avoid party politics. Grant left the White House in 1877, admitting in a remarkable farewell address to Congress that it had been his "misfortune to be called to the Office of Chief Executive without any political training" and apologizing for his "errors of judgment." Perhaps some of Grant's troubles as President are related to his disdain for politics.
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