Worst Presidents: Ulysses S. Grant (1869-1877)

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Unbelievable this man is rated anywhere close to being a worst president. UNBELIEVABLE!
He certainly was not the greatest, but I would put FDR, Teddy, Carter, and even FORD beneath him. Stephen Guy's comments are far more accurate. Anyone who doubts this KNOWS NOTHING.
Grant obeyed Butler? Read Grant's memoirs to dismiss that notion. Butler was an egregious fool and discontent to accept his station and rank below Grant.
Read the record, people. Grant, Sherman, and Sheridan were the only generals capable of actually winning sustained combat. Pope could not, and neither could Hooker. (McClelland? Pathetic JOKE!) Only Grant saw what others could/would not. War must aggressively and relentlessly be persecuted until total victory is achieved. And of ALL the generals selected to head the Army, ONLY Grant out maneuvered and out fought the masterful Lee.
One LIBERAL historian does a treatment on a man and all the other LIBERAL historians suddenly know the truth. Pathetic! Bunch of ignorant, know-nothing historians.
Grant was a great man, a great general, and a very good president. As Guy pointed out, graft was just as bad under Lincoln and Johnson. Had the executive branch been a military organization, its personal would have been much different.
And if Grant was such a black mark on our nation's history, why has his portrait been affixed to the $50 bill for so long? (Oh, that's right. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing selected him BEFORE the liberal Schlesinger had a chance to sharpen his hatchet.)

J.R. of NC 4:48AM February 15, 2012

Interesting fact, he mostly did whatever "Beast Butler" (the worst Governor of Louisiana) told him to do. I believe he was the second worst president. P.S. I support A. Johnson's Presidency.

Matthew Hecht of LA 9:03PM September 23, 2011

An unimaginative military man who won battles by his cold willingness to accept greater causalities, Grant was even worse as a president, setting the stage for the intergenerational divisions which Reconstruction caused rather than healing the country as Lincoln had intended. In this writer's view Grant was the worst former President the country has thus far had.

Richard of OH 11:10PM August 02, 2011

Our country as we know it, started in 1866 with the 14th amendment. Grant brought that second revolution into being militarily and only out of duty and love of country, a unwilling entry into politics. No other American could step into this mess and that takes nothing from his opponent Horatio Seymour, who was better prepared, but lacked the ability to rule a unruly country.The first president to have to deal with the rights of all Americans. The graft was flagrant in Lincoln's administration. It was flagrant in Johnson's administration. If Lincoln was great, Grant made him so. He broke the rebellion in the West and defeated the venerable Lee. First to actually put a native American in charge of native Americans. This is the true father of our country as we know it today. No American faced more problems and met them more selflessly. Greatest president? Greatest general? Smartest? No. All chickens came home to roost during his life and only one man dealt with more. I still challenge anyone to find a single American who faced more or was a greater all around American. Monday morning quarterback this man all you want. I know of no one qualified to even analyze the depth of his total service to our nation.

Steven Guy of TX 2:42AM April 18, 2011

Thank you to my fellow Grant-lovers!
Let's petition to have him honoured!

mlg.lamberth of GA 5:37PM March 15, 2011

Somewhat over-rated as a general, though credit should be given for being aggressive. General George Thomas was a better general and U.S. Grant did much to discredit his accomplishments, which reflects badly on him. US Grant was much more political than many realize.

ray kline of VA 8:48PM January 15, 2011

I agree with almost everyone here. He was naive. Even ignorant. His greatest mistake was placing too much trust in his friends who were corrupt.
As a military leader, he can be considered a great man.
As a political leader, he was a child.

Allen Davis of IN 9:35PM January 14, 2011

I will never ever get why Grant is rated so low. Corruption? Yes indeed and it had been there in the Lincoln administration during the war. During the Johnson years nothing was done. Grant served at perhaps the toughest time in our history. He had to rebuild the country and he was de facto leader during the Johnson administration. He was politically naive, but he was perhaps one of the most honest men who ever occupied the White House. To put a full blooded Indian in charge of Indian affairs was unheard of and no one else could have even attempted what he did toward that and his attempts for rights for blacks. Lincoln would not have won the war and we forgive him for being distracted from the corruption. Grants plate was full too. Harry Truman said Sherman had it wrong, peace was hell. He won the civil war, he held the country together after Lincoln's assassination. I challenge any person who ranks him low to prove the country was in worse shape than when he came in. He is the most underrated man in our history.

Steven Guy of IL 4:36AM November 27, 2010

This Georgian appreciates Grant as general and president for trying to do good by all us southerners and the Indians!
And Sherman did my South good!
So I'm a liberal white! Fairnes,not guilt!

Morgan-LynnGriggs Lamberth of GA 8:39PM July 07, 2010

PRESIDENT GRANT DID WELL AS PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES...IT'S JUST IGNORANT PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT CRITICIZE OTHER PEOPLE'S... I THINK YOU ARE NUMBER ONE ON THE LIST.

JOEL of CA 3:56AM June 13, 2010