Summer Reading for Potus Geeks: The Fascinating Life of Ulysses Grant
It has been said that when the Civil War ended, the most popular man in the Union states was not Abraham Lincoln, but was in fact General Ulysses S. Grant. He was not nearly so popular as president, when scandals and a recession known as the "Panic of 1873" tarnished his image. But his actions in showing considerable integrity to make restitution to victims swindled by his son's business partner by selling off his personal memorabilia so that they could get their money back greatly rehabilitated the esteem in which he was held by the populace. His race against the cancer that took his life, to write his memoirs and provide security for his family after he was gone adds credence to the legend of what a good decent man Grant was, despite his having earned the pejorative moniker "Grant the Butcher" as a general. Such a fascinating life makes for fascinating reading and even more recommendations as part of this month's theme.
Two of the best books about Grant have previously been mentioned in this series. Despite having been written over a century ago, The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses Grant is the best autobiography of a former president ever written. Unfortunately, Grant writes of his life only up to his time as a General in the Civil War. He does not write about his time in the White House. These memoirs were written at the end of Grant's life when he was battling the throat cancer that would claim his life. Grant's writing has been praised for its conciseness and clarity, a nice change from many Civil War memoirs, which tended to reflect the Victorian fondness for elaborate (and sometimes overblown) language. When it was published, the book received universal critical praise. Mark Twain, who convinced Grant to write the story of his life, compared the Memoirs to Julius Caesar's Commentaries. Gertrude Stein also praised the book, saying she could not think of Grant without weeping. More recently they received glowing praise from the Washington Post's Presidential Podcast (hosted by Lillian Cunningham) for the timeless nature of their content. The Memoirs quickly became a best seller, allowing Grant to meet his goal of providing for his family after he was gone. If you have never read these memoirs, I highly recommend them, they are a classic and a pleasant read, that seem to transcend the time of their composition.
The second book (in my view the best written about Grant by another author) is The Man Who Saved the Union: Ulysses Grant in War and Peace by H. W. Brands. Brands does a terrific job of recounting Grant's entire life, first taking the reader through his subject's early years, then into his civil war career, next to his postbellum career as a general, then as president through the difficult period of reconstruction, and finally to Grant's life following the presidency. Brands does not shy away from the subject of Grant's problems with alcohol, but makes the argument that this issue was probably exaggerated and that there is no evidence that Grant's drinking ever affected his leadership or his decision-making. It is hard to doubt, after reading this book, that Grant was very principled, committed to the concept of equal rights as well as many other causes for the betterment of his nation.
Other options for those wanting to read more about Grant include Jean Edward Smith's 2001 biography simply called Grant. Smith notes that while recent history has been kinder to Grant than were the scribes of his day, there are compelling reasons to accept this revisionary approach, while still acknowledging the shortcomings of Grant's administration. It is a very thorough and well-written biography.
Ulysses S. Grant: Soldier and President by Geoffrey Perret is another book that looks at Grant's entire life. Perret, a military historian, also reassesses Grant's career in a favorable light. He paints Grant as a no frills general who won by understanding how armies worked and by using the resources available to him.
A less favorable portrayal of Grant is found in William McFeeley's 1982 Pulitzer Prize winning biography (simply called Grant: A Biography). It is a detailed look at Grant's life that dispels many of the popular myths (both positive and negative) about Grant. McFeeley downplays Lincoln's affection for Grant, claiming that Lincoln was never quite sure if he could trust the general. McFeely calls Grant's wilderness campaign a "hideous disaster," and suggests that Grant cared little about the colossal loss of life at Cold Harbor. Of the Grant administration, usually regarded as one of the most corrupt in the nation's history, McFeely argues that not all of it was Grant's fault.
Civil war historian Charles Bracelen Flood has penned two good books that focus on more specific aspects of Grant's life. Grant And Sherman: The Friendship that Won the Civil War is, as its title suggests, the story of the close friendship and working relationship between the two iconic Union generals. Flood's book about Grant's final years, entitled Grant's Final Victory: Ulysses S. Grant's Heroic Last Year is the story of how Grant's memoirs came to be written, and how, after losing all of his wealth in a terrible 1884 swindle, and learning that he had terminal throat and mouth cancer, Grant wrote his memoirs to save his family from permanent financial ruin. Grant finished Memoirs just four days before he died in July 1885. Published after his death by his friend Mark Twain, Grant’s Memoirs became an instant bestseller, restoring his family’s financial health.
Grant is such an interesting study. I'm surprised that no miniseries or HBO movie of his life has been made, as was done for John Adams or Harry Truman. His is a uniquely lived life that provides plenty of material for the reader.
Two of the best books about Grant have previously been mentioned in this series. Despite having been written over a century ago, The Personal Memoirs of Ulysses Grant is the best autobiography of a former president ever written. Unfortunately, Grant writes of his life only up to his time as a General in the Civil War. He does not write about his time in the White House. These memoirs were written at the end of Grant's life when he was battling the throat cancer that would claim his life. Grant's writing has been praised for its conciseness and clarity, a nice change from many Civil War memoirs, which tended to reflect the Victorian fondness for elaborate (and sometimes overblown) language. When it was published, the book received universal critical praise. Mark Twain, who convinced Grant to write the story of his life, compared the Memoirs to Julius Caesar's Commentaries. Gertrude Stein also praised the book, saying she could not think of Grant without weeping. More recently they received glowing praise from the Washington Post's Presidential Podcast (hosted by Lillian Cunningham) for the timeless nature of their content. The Memoirs quickly became a best seller, allowing Grant to meet his goal of providing for his family after he was gone. If you have never read these memoirs, I highly recommend them, they are a classic and a pleasant read, that seem to transcend the time of their composition.
The second book (in my view the best written about Grant by another author) is The Man Who Saved the Union: Ulysses Grant in War and Peace by H. W. Brands. Brands does a terrific job of recounting Grant's entire life, first taking the reader through his subject's early years, then into his civil war career, next to his postbellum career as a general, then as president through the difficult period of reconstruction, and finally to Grant's life following the presidency. Brands does not shy away from the subject of Grant's problems with alcohol, but makes the argument that this issue was probably exaggerated and that there is no evidence that Grant's drinking ever affected his leadership or his decision-making. It is hard to doubt, after reading this book, that Grant was very principled, committed to the concept of equal rights as well as many other causes for the betterment of his nation.
Other options for those wanting to read more about Grant include Jean Edward Smith's 2001 biography simply called Grant. Smith notes that while recent history has been kinder to Grant than were the scribes of his day, there are compelling reasons to accept this revisionary approach, while still acknowledging the shortcomings of Grant's administration. It is a very thorough and well-written biography.
Ulysses S. Grant: Soldier and President by Geoffrey Perret is another book that looks at Grant's entire life. Perret, a military historian, also reassesses Grant's career in a favorable light. He paints Grant as a no frills general who won by understanding how armies worked and by using the resources available to him.
A less favorable portrayal of Grant is found in William McFeeley's 1982 Pulitzer Prize winning biography (simply called Grant: A Biography). It is a detailed look at Grant's life that dispels many of the popular myths (both positive and negative) about Grant. McFeeley downplays Lincoln's affection for Grant, claiming that Lincoln was never quite sure if he could trust the general. McFeely calls Grant's wilderness campaign a "hideous disaster," and suggests that Grant cared little about the colossal loss of life at Cold Harbor. Of the Grant administration, usually regarded as one of the most corrupt in the nation's history, McFeely argues that not all of it was Grant's fault.
Civil war historian Charles Bracelen Flood has penned two good books that focus on more specific aspects of Grant's life. Grant And Sherman: The Friendship that Won the Civil War is, as its title suggests, the story of the close friendship and working relationship between the two iconic Union generals. Flood's book about Grant's final years, entitled Grant's Final Victory: Ulysses S. Grant's Heroic Last Year is the story of how Grant's memoirs came to be written, and how, after losing all of his wealth in a terrible 1884 swindle, and learning that he had terminal throat and mouth cancer, Grant wrote his memoirs to save his family from permanent financial ruin. Grant finished Memoirs just four days before he died in July 1885. Published after his death by his friend Mark Twain, Grant’s Memoirs became an instant bestseller, restoring his family’s financial health.
Grant is such an interesting study. I'm surprised that no miniseries or HBO movie of his life has been made, as was done for John Adams or Harry Truman. His is a uniquely lived life that provides plenty of material for the reader.