Potus Geeks Book Review: American Ulysses
There have been a number of biographies of Ulysses Grant in recent years and they have been almost entirely (if not entirely) positive in their assessment of the life of the famed Union General who went on to become the 18th President of the United States. In his 2016 work American Ulysses: A Life of Ulysses Grant, author Ronald C. White continues this trend. His strong admiration (bordering on adulation) for his subject appears justified, as White makes the case that Grant deserves to be admired for his courage, his humility, his fairness, and his integrity.
White presents a complete portrait of the life of Ulysses Grant, telling us about Grant's Puritan ancestry before leading us through Grant's birth and his boyhood, his time as a cadet at West Point, his service in the Mexican War, his peace time military career, his lost years between his two periods of military service, his fascinating careers as the most prominent and most successful Union general, his service during Reconstruction, his two terms as President, and his eventful life after the White House. Ulysses Grant led a life like no other American, and while it takes the author 657 pages to tell Grant's life story, the book never lags.
White does not avoid the controversial aspects of Grant's life: the accusations of drunkenness, his being known as "Grant the butcher" because of the high casualties that accumulated during his military campaigns, the many scandals during his administration and the corrupt men that Grant appointed to important government positions, and the losses suffered by investors in the firm operated by Grant's son after Grant's presidency. White relies on a variety of contemporary sources to defend Grant's reputation and his character in each of these instances, ably making the case that Grant remained principled and honest throughout.
Not all of Grant's most interesting accomplishments occurred on the battlefield, or even in the White House. White's accounts of Grant's fight to protect the rights of former slaves, both as a general and as president, present a compelling testimony to Grant's principled character that has been overlooked by many of his earlier biographers. White also provides an excellent account of Grant's round-the-world tour that followed his presidency, as well as his final battle, a race against the throat cancer that would ultimately take his life, as he worked to complete his memoirs in order to leave his family financially secure. The story of Grant, the devoted and loving husband and father, is also another aspect of Grant's life that White describes so well.
It is clear that this work is a labor of love for its author. This is apparent from the acknowledgements section of the book, which offers a look at the depth of the author's research. White provides a strong case for placing Grant on an equal footing with Lincoln as a remarkable and admirable historic personality (which would explain why biographies of Grant are more common in recent years). When one looks at the Ulysses Grant that is presented by Ronald White, it is no wonder that Grant's reputation has been rehabilitated in recent biographies, and fairly so. Whether one's interest is in the civil war, the presidency or the study of leadership during the most trying of times, this book will provide great satisfaction to the reader.
White presents a complete portrait of the life of Ulysses Grant, telling us about Grant's Puritan ancestry before leading us through Grant's birth and his boyhood, his time as a cadet at West Point, his service in the Mexican War, his peace time military career, his lost years between his two periods of military service, his fascinating careers as the most prominent and most successful Union general, his service during Reconstruction, his two terms as President, and his eventful life after the White House. Ulysses Grant led a life like no other American, and while it takes the author 657 pages to tell Grant's life story, the book never lags.
White does not avoid the controversial aspects of Grant's life: the accusations of drunkenness, his being known as "Grant the butcher" because of the high casualties that accumulated during his military campaigns, the many scandals during his administration and the corrupt men that Grant appointed to important government positions, and the losses suffered by investors in the firm operated by Grant's son after Grant's presidency. White relies on a variety of contemporary sources to defend Grant's reputation and his character in each of these instances, ably making the case that Grant remained principled and honest throughout.
Not all of Grant's most interesting accomplishments occurred on the battlefield, or even in the White House. White's accounts of Grant's fight to protect the rights of former slaves, both as a general and as president, present a compelling testimony to Grant's principled character that has been overlooked by many of his earlier biographers. White also provides an excellent account of Grant's round-the-world tour that followed his presidency, as well as his final battle, a race against the throat cancer that would ultimately take his life, as he worked to complete his memoirs in order to leave his family financially secure. The story of Grant, the devoted and loving husband and father, is also another aspect of Grant's life that White describes so well.
It is clear that this work is a labor of love for its author. This is apparent from the acknowledgements section of the book, which offers a look at the depth of the author's research. White provides a strong case for placing Grant on an equal footing with Lincoln as a remarkable and admirable historic personality (which would explain why biographies of Grant are more common in recent years). When one looks at the Ulysses Grant that is presented by Ronald White, it is no wonder that Grant's reputation has been rehabilitated in recent biographies, and fairly so. Whether one's interest is in the civil war, the presidency or the study of leadership during the most trying of times, this book will provide great satisfaction to the reader.