The Presidency of Ulysses S. Grant

As controversial in politics as he was in the military, Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885) was an embattled president, enormously popular with the American people, yet the target of unrelenting censure by political enemies. For the first time in almost a century, this book by the distinguished historian Charles W. Calhoun examines Grant's administration in depth, offering a fresh look at the 18th president's policies and actions during his two terms in office (1869-1877).

Most biographers focus on Grant's military career, giving less attention to the significant and complex questions that marked his presidential terms. These concerns, the issues of politics and governance, are at the core of this book. As a political historian with a vast knowledge of nineteenth-century America and an extensive array of original sources at his command, Calhoun approaches Grant's presidency not as an incongruous or inconsequential sequel to his military career but instead as the polestar of American public life during a crucial decade in the nation's political development. He explores Grant's leadership style and traces his contributions to the office of president, including creating a White House staff, employing modern technology to promote the mobility of the presidency, and developing strong ties with congressional leaders to enhance executive influence over legislation.

The Presidency of Ulysses S. Grant provides a detailed discussion of the administration's endeavors in a variety of areas--Reconstruction and civil rights, economic policy, the Peace Policy for Native Americans, foreign policy, and civil service reform. It also offers a straightforward examination of the scandals associated with the period, highlighting the "embattled" nature of Grant's presidency and the deep antagonism that marked his relations with key critics such as Charles Sumner, Henry Adams, and Benjamin Bristow. In sum, this book is a long overdue re-evaluation of a pivotal presidency in America's political history.

Author: Charles W. Calhoun
Publisher: University Press of Kansas
Published: 08/28/2017
Pages: 720
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 2.50lbs
Size: 9.30h x 6.40w x 1.90d
ISBN: 9780700624843


Review Citation(s):
Library Journal 10/01/2017
Choice 05/01/2018

About the Author
Calhoun, Charles W.: - Charles W. Calhoun, Thomas Harriot College Distinguished Professor of History emeritus at East Carolina University, is the author of many books, including Conceiving a New Republic: The Republican Party and the Southern Question, 1869-1900 and Minority Victory: Gilded Age Politics and the Front Porch Campaign of 1888, both from Kansas.Calhoun, Charles W.: - Charles W. Calhoun, Thomas Harriot College Distinguished Professor of History emeritus at East Carolina University, is the author of many books, including Conceiving a New Republic: The Republican Party and the Southern Question, 1869-1900 and Minority Victory: Gilded Age Politics and the Front Porch Campaign of 1888, both from Kansas.

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