“Although a soldier by profession, I have never felt any sort of fondness for war, and I have never advocated it, except as a means of peace” (Grant) Ulysses S. Grant, elected as the 18th president of the United States serving from 1869 to 1877 (U.S.G. Biography). Grant, youngest to serve at the time, proved to be politically inexperienced, yet was highly effective in fighting violence, ensuring rights, and creating relations. Ulysses. S Grant was an effective official prior to and during his presidential term that can be credited with many accomplishments including rights bestowed upon citizens today.
According to Joan Waugh, Grant graduated twenty-first in a class of thirty-nine and was later further educated in the military. He entered the Army with a skillful passion for horses and hoped to earn a spot in the elite cavalry, but was assigned to infantry instead. Becoming Lieutenant, Grant's division moved further south, towards Louisiana, then Texas, to prepare for the conflict with Mexico that was beginning in Texas territory. From 1846 to 1848, the young man fought in the Mexican War and was recognized twice for his bravery on the line. He was selected as quartermaster for the Fourth Infantry and held duties of providing supplies and transportation as his unit moved through the rural area of Mexico. While assigned to this post he gained valuable knowledge of the logistics in war. In 1854, Grant suddenly left the Army with little explanation provided.
According to USG’s Lifelong Struggle with Alcohol, Grant could not support his family of five, became depressed due to his financial situation, and turned to alcohol. According to Joan Waugh, he attempted many lines of work while away from the Army until the governor of Illinois appointed him to lead a volunteer regiment that seemed impossible to be trained. Back in his original profession, the former Lieutenant implemented overdue discipline, focusing on the regiment's big picture goals and ignoring fine details. Abraham Lincoln was president at the time and would select Grant as the man to lead the North to an astounding victory. In February 1862, he coordinated his unit to capture Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, two critical Confederate bases in Tennessee. At Fort Donelson, he assumed the surrender of a complete Confederate force, earning a well deserved nickname, "Unconditional Surrender" Grant. After Fort Donelson, the first real Union victory, Grant became a national icon and was promoted to major general overnight. In 1863, Grant, who commanded the District of Tennessee, led the capture of Vicksburg, Mississippi. In the first months of 1864, President Lincoln awarded Grant as lieutenant general and commander of all Union forces. His time as quartermaster qualified him to direct strategy and plan major campaigns almost simultaneously. In 1866, he was named general of the armies, a rank previously achieved only by George Washington. During post-war redistribution he, as full general, oversaw the military portion of Reconstruction (U.S.G. Biography). As Grant moved up the ladder of ranks in the military, he became faced with political opportunity.
According to Janet Riehecky, Grant served a brief stint as secretary of war under the Johnson administration (44). After bitter conflict between the president and Congress, Grant resigned from his position to work with leaders of Congress. Grant withdrew his support of Johnson, who accused him of disloyalty to his country.
According to Joan Waugh, his candidacy could be credited largely to the war’s importance to American life. Daily life was consumed by public and media discussion of the Civil War for generations afterward. Ulysses was nationally known and rumored to be the reason the nation was still together. It was no surprise that the people saw him as a presidential prospect. Although Grant was a man of high honor and accomplishment in the military, he had no political experience outside of his profession. Grant himself saying, “It was my misfortune to be called to the office of Chief Executive without any previous political training” (Grant).
According to 1868 and 1872 Election References, presidential candidates were nominated through a party’s national convention. The Republican or Democratic National Convention served as the primary election for all candidates, they were nominated to the official ballot at this time.
According to 1868 Election References, a central issue was Johnson’s attempted impeachment that he escaped by one vote. A large controversy was also the fact that, despite his impeachment, Johnson hoped to be reelected. A strong domestic issue was the Reconstruction between the North and the South. The reconstruction era was sparked by the end of the Civil War. These acts divided the South into five districts and ordered new state governments. It brought about legislation that outlines the procedures that would be taken to readmit Southern states into the Union. Andrew Johnson’s moderate approach was opposed by radical Republicans who wanted harsh legislation. The final bills were largely written by radical Republicans of Congress. According to Joan Waugh, the other high-profile domestic issue at the time was the treatment of American Indians. The central issue revolved around attempts to bring Indians closer to civilization and transition federal Indian policy into Peace Policy. On the flip side, there was a multitude of foreign issues at the forefront of the campaign. Foreign affairs include; the relationship between the United States and Britain after accusations of violating neutrality, disrupting shipping, and prolonging the duration of the Civil War, the annexing and possibility of a Navy port in Santo Domingo, and the United State’s role in the Cuban rebellion against Spain. The public and Congress supported the rebels, but the timeframe of the Cuban Insurrection drove Grant to avoid war while the nation was recovering from the Civil War. Finally, a table-turning economic predicament was the distribution of “greenbacks”, or excess paper money. Normally backed by gold, this currency was only backed by the faith of the federal government and contributed to the shaky economy. According to 1868 Election References, one of the most pressing social issues was the franchise of African Americans and the rights of freedmen. The fourteenth amendment had just passed, guaranteeing African Americans all the privileges of citizenship.
According to 1868 Election References, Ulysses S. Grant was unanimously nominated in the Republican party primaries and was the only one to do so. Speaker of the House Schuyler Colfax of Indiana won the Vice President nomination, defeating ten other contenders. The Democratic party, on the other hand, had fourteen candidates, eventually choosing Horatio Seymour, former New York governor. Although minimal, as custom at the time, Grant’s campaign was effective in gaining support of African voters, which proved to turn the tables in general elections. Grant took only one trip which was to Denver, however, he did not speak-he only waved at the public. He received much support at his home through letters and gifts, sparking the “front-porch” campaigns. The campaign accused his opponent and its party as traitors to the Union. Ulysses did not directly attack Seymour, but it was said his character, sanity, and health were prodded by the Republican party. The slogan that became the soundtrack of the Republican campaign was “Let us have peace.” The opposing campaigns slogan revolved around name-calling and superiority of whites. His most influential campaign appeal was his Tanner Clubs, advocating his humble origins. Turning points of his campaign were when the Republican Party announced their “Union Party”d label and Grant sought a Radical Republican Vice President candidate. Fearing Seymour could win against the Republican hero, the campaign heightened attacks on Seymour. Even while Republicans advocated for blacks, violence arose against them by organizations such as the Ku Klux Klan.
According to 1868 Presidential Election, the election was the first to take place in the Reconstruction era. Texas, Mississippi, and Virginia, former confederates, were not allowed to vote. According to National Archives and Record Administration, Ulysses S. Grant buried Horatio Seymour in the Electoral vote of 1868. Grant receiving 214 votes to Seymour’s 80, a nearly three to one voting margin. He shyly defeated his opponent in the popular vote as well, 3,013,650 to 2,708,744. According to Janet Riehecky, the votes of newly-admitted Southern states carried Grant through the election. This election began a new history, former slaves were voting in the presidential election for the very first time and greatly outnumbered white voters (45). Nearly all cast their vote for Grant, making it clear Grant owed the victory to former slaves. According to The American Presidents, Radical Republicans in Congress were the reason Grant was in the White House. According to Election of 1868, Seymour backed the excess production of greenbacks. Republicans also capitalized on the “bloody shirt tactic”, reminding Democrats of Seymour’s lack of support of the war. The Democrats most likely lost because of their poor candidates, rather than Grant’s political appeal.
According to Joan Waugh, Grant's popularity was high after his first four years but a faction of his party was disheartened with his policies. These members decided to erase their Republican name and write a new story as Liberal Republicans. Domestic issues in the South, mainly African American rights and federal intervention, stemmed the opposition. According to 1872 Election References, little has changed since the 1868 election and unresolved reconstruction and African Americans are the leading domestic issues at the time. Also, an issue floating among the public was known as “Grantism” or the Grant administration itself. According to The American Presidents, voters reacted to the string of scandals of the 1868 administration. The economic issues were rising and during the election of 1872 the United States was on the brink of a depression and financial panic (165). According to South Carolina Ku Klux Klan Trials: 1871-72, the conflict between whites and African Americans was more heated than ever. This social issue peaked with intimidation and murder and the presidential candidates would be tasked with ending the violence. According to Sarah Pruitt, sixteen women voted illegally in the 1872 election, a true demonstration of the rights issues of the era. Inspired by British suffragists, United States suffragists adopted deadly and damaging tactics.
According to Janet Riehecky, the family was eager to reside in the White House for another term. Grant was committed to completing the work he had begun in his first term (59). According to 1872 Election References, the only candidate in the eyes of the Republican party was Ulysses S. Grant. He won election to the ballot during the Republican Party National Convention, now known as the primary election. Vice President Colfax did not have the opportunity for a second term, Henry Wilson proved more popular among the six Vice President candidates in the Republican party. There were four Democratic candidates and six Liberal Republicans up for the vote. Horace Greeley, a former newspaper editor, happened to be on both of the two partys’ list. The two parties allied and each nominated Horace to their ballots. The “mudslinging” campaign tactics hadn’t evolved in the four years since the last election. While up for his reelection Grant was attacked by the Democrats and Liberal Republicans, saying he was drunk, incompetent, and corrupt. The 1872 campaign was for the working-man with slogans “The Galena Tanner” and “The Natick Shoemaker.” On the flip side, the Democrat’s most popular campaign tagline was “Anyone But Grant.” Quotations from many renowned men were influential in his campaign. According to James Garfield, “Grant was the second choice of most of our people, and they are not agreed on a first.” Also, according to Frederick Douglass, former slave, “if the Republican Party goes down, freedom goes down with it.” According to 1872 Election References, George Julian, Republican Party founder, threw a hitch into the campaign when he said he could not support the reelection without sinning against decency and his self-respect.
According to 1872 Election References, this election year was one of many milestones. It was the first election with a death, with a woman, Victoria Woodhull, running for the Executive office, and the first African American running for the office of Vice. According to National Archives and Record Administration, the election of 1872 was far from predictable. Ulysses S. Grant was running for reelection against Horace Greeley, however Greeley died prior to the electoral vote. Sixty-three electoral votes were given to four other candidates, and three votes for Greeley were deemed invalid. Theoretically, Grant won the Electoral College by a vote of 286 to none. Greeley, prior to his death, had achieved 2,834,761 popular votes compared to Grant’s 3,598,235. According to Janet Riehecky, the percentage of voting African Americans was larger than any other past election (50). Much of Grant’s support came from freedmen, one of the reasons the Republicans won the election.. According to 1872 Election References, Grant’s success could be credited to Greeley’s poor campaigning. As a newspaper editor Greeley had burned bridges with Democrats after releasing strong content and opinions. Greeley’s running mate also proved to be an embarrassment due to his intoxication during public speeches. The Republican Liberal party was decimated after such detrimental candidates. According to Joan Waugh, Greeley’s reversal of sides on key issues led to greater support of Grant. Greely supported high tariffs when his own party advocated free trade, which led to withdraw of favor and Grant’s victory. The results brought an overwhelming Republican presence into Congress. According to Janet Riehecky, Grant entered his term with optimism and confidence, not aware of the events that would soon turn his daily life into a misery (60).
According to Janet Riehecky, the Republicans teetered on electing Grant to a third term, but decided it was time for a change in leadership. Even with a multitude of scandals, Grant’s personal popularity remained high. They nominated Rutherford Hayes in hopes he would cut ties with the chain of scandals (71). According to Grant’s Tomb, Ulysses never directly announced his candidacy of 1880. He had been considered for the election of 1876, but instead took leave for two years to travel the world with his wife. Announcements of candidacy were not a norm at the time, Grant continued with the tradition as he did in his previous successful campaigns. Although a viable candidate with significant nationwide support, he fell short of nomination. Although he did not participate in this election [1880], his efforts to be nominated for a third term and the lengths supporters went to secure his term were unprecedented.
According to Janet Riehecky, Grant had no trouble making enemies in the first stages of his presidency. Congress was disheartened when he elected cabinet officials without consulting them. He had also failed to distribute the positions between political divisions. Like he would in the battlefield, he chose people who were able and whom he could function with. The enthusiasm of the public didn’t transfer into the Senate, who had qualified and supported candidates not be appointed (47). One person he selected, Alexander Stewart, was not eligible by law. The forcible removal of him by the Senate sparked the hostile relationship between strong minded Grant and an insulted Congress (48).
According to John Simon, the president had a cabinet of very familiar faces. In the first term he had elected officials to six cabinet positions. His Secretary of State was Hamilton Fish, whom also held this position in the second term of Ulysses S. Grant. Elected as Secretary of Treasury was George Boutwell, a Democrat converted to a Republican. Three individuals held the position of Secretary of War, they were John Rawlins, William Sherman, and William Belknap. Belknap’s leadership was continued into the second term. Adolph Borie and George Robeson served as Secretary of Navy. Robeson stayed on the cabinet for the entirety of the second presidential term. Attorney General electees included Ebenezer Hoar, Amos Akerman, and George Williams. George Williams carried over his position as Attorney General into the second term. Jacob Cox was succeeded by Columbus Delano as Secretary of Interior. Delano and Zacharia Chandler acted as Secretary of Interior during Grant’s second term. There were few additions to the cabinet during the last four years of Grant’s presidency. William Richardson, Benjamin Bristow, and Lot Morrill served as Secretary of Treasury. Alphonso Taft, along with James Cameron, followed Belknap as Secretary of War. Edward Pierrepont began in 1875 and Alphonso Taft concluded the final term as Attorney General.
Many of his Cabinet selections had no particular thoughts put into them. According to Election of 1868, Grant’s very first Secretary of State, Elihu Washburne, was intended as a courtesy to a former friend. This appointment lasted only a short few days. The selection of Washburne and Rawlins were because of his loyalty to personal acquaintances. The failed appointment of Alexander Stewart was based on his wealth as a merchant. Hoar and Cox were respected for their ability which led to their nomination. Hamilton Fish, his best choice, reflected his conservativism. Most other nominations were suitable, but many of the nominees had no interest in remaining in the cabinet for long. The basis of his cabinet nominations stemmed from his sympathetic attitude toward southerners, reconstruction, and suffrage. He searched for people who could achieve harmony and obedience to law, so did not select people whose loyalty could be in Congress and not the Executive office.