Grant’s Grant’s Presidency Presidency (1869-(1869-

1877)1877)

Ulysses S. GrantUlysses S. Grant Political Party: RepublicanPolitical Party: Republican Famous for: Was the Famous for: Was the

Commander of Union Commander of Union forces during the Civil forces during the Civil War. Had one of the most War. Had one of the most corrupt administrations in corrupt administrations in history.history.

Nicknames: Nicknames: “Unconditional Surrender” “Unconditional Surrender” and “Hero of Appomattox”and “Hero of Appomattox”

Interesting facts: Died Interesting facts: Died from throat cancer, hated from throat cancer, hated the sight of blood, was a the sight of blood, was a binge drinker.binge drinker.

Reconstruction PoliciesReconstruction Policies

Supported civil rights for Supported civil rights for African Americans and African Americans and amnesty for Confederate amnesty for Confederate leaders.leaders.

Favored a limited number Favored a limited number of troops in the south—of troops in the south—enough to ensure the rights enough to ensure the rights of Southern blacks, of Southern blacks, suppress the violence of the suppress the violence of the KKK, and support the KKK, and support the Republican governors.Republican governors.

The 15The 15thth Amendment was Amendment was ratified in 1870— ratified in 1870— established voting rights.established voting rights.

Corruption in Grant’s Corruption in Grant’s AdministrationAdministration

Crédit MobilierCrédit Mobilier—a construction company —a construction company formed in 1867 to complete the trans-continental formed in 1867 to complete the trans-continental railway’s last 667 miles of track. railway’s last 667 miles of track.

Problem: Congressmen and Union Pacific Problem: Congressmen and Union Pacific executives owned stock in executives owned stock in bothboth the railroad and the the railroad and the construction company. construction company.

Crédit MobilierCrédit Mobilier charged the railroad tens of charged the railroad tens of millions of dollars more than the actual cost of millions of dollars more than the actual cost of construction.construction.

Construction company paid themselves. No Construction company paid themselves. No competition for business=huge profit for stock competition for business=huge profit for stock investors investors

This fraud was exposed in 1872—no prosecutions This fraud was exposed in 1872—no prosecutions occurredoccurred

Tammany HallTammany Hall Tammany Hall—The Tammany Hall—The Democratic party political Democratic party political machine in New York City.machine in New York City.

William “Boss” Tweed—a William “Boss” Tweed—a politician who ran politician who ran Tammany Hall until 1873.Tammany Hall until 1873.

Cycle of Corruption: Tweed Cycle of Corruption: Tweed helps NYC immigrants if helps NYC immigrants if they will vote for his they will vote for his political candidate. This political candidate. This government official then government official then hires Tweed’s contractor hires Tweed’s contractor for public works. The for public works. The contractor charges too contractor charges too much for their work and the much for their work and the extra cash goes to Tweed.extra cash goes to Tweed.

Black FridayBlack Friday 1869 Jim Fisk and Jay 1869 Jim Fisk and Jay

Gould attempt to “corner Gould attempt to “corner the nation’s gold market.” the nation’s gold market.” This created a financial This created a financial panic in the U.S.panic in the U.S.

These speculators bought These speculators bought up all the private gold, up all the private gold, which sent its’ price sky-which sent its’ price sky-high. Fisk and Gould high. Fisk and Gould wanted to force bankers wanted to force bankers and businessmen to buy and businessmen to buy their gold at inflated their gold at inflated prices.prices.

To end the panic, Grant To end the panic, Grant ordered the sale of $4 ordered the sale of $4 million of government gold. million of government gold.

Whiskey RingWhiskey Ring Over $3 million Over $3 million

dollars in taxes stolen dollars in taxes stolen from the federal from the federal government. Began in government. Began in St. Louis.St. Louis.

To avoid the whiskey To avoid the whiskey tax, distillers bribed tax, distillers bribed high governmental high governmental officials who pocketed officials who pocketed the extra cash.the extra cash.

Busted in 1875— Led Busted in 1875— Led to over 100 to over 100 convictions. Grant convictions. Grant shielded his private shielded his private secretary, Orville E. secretary, Orville E. Babcock, fromBabcock, from

Salary GrabSalary Grab Act passed by Congress on Act passed by Congress on

March 3, 1873 to double March 3, 1873 to double the salary of the President the salary of the President and the Supreme Court and the Supreme Court Justices.Justices.

Corruption: Hidden in the Corruption: Hidden in the salary increases was a 50% salary increases was a 50% raise for members of raise for members of Congress. The bill also Congress. The bill also paved the way for the pay paved the way for the pay increase to be effective increase to be effective retroactively for the retroactively for the previous two years. previous two years.

Public outrage resulted in Public outrage resulted in the repeal of this act.the repeal of this act.

The Sanborn Incident The Sanborn Incident 18741874

Grant’s Secretary of the Grant’s Secretary of the Treasury William Treasury William Richardson hired John Richardson hired John D. Sanborn, a private D. Sanborn, a private citizen, to collect unpaid citizen, to collect unpaid taxes.taxes.

Richardson agreed that Richardson agreed that Sanborn could keep half Sanborn could keep half of what he collected.of what he collected.

Sanborn kept $213,000 Sanborn kept $213,000 and $153,000 went to and $153,000 went to his “assistant,” who was his “assistant,” who was actually Richardson.actually Richardson.

Patronage SystemPatronage System The same spoils system Andrew Jackson created.The same spoils system Andrew Jackson created. President Grant alienated party leaders by ignoring President Grant alienated party leaders by ignoring

their recommendations and giving governmental their recommendations and giving governmental positions to friends and political contributors.positions to friends and political contributors.

This began the push for civil service reform.This began the push for civil service reform.

Grant’s LegacyGrant’s Legacy Often considered a Often considered a

political failure due to political failure due to his limited successes his limited successes during reconstruction during reconstruction and inability to curb and inability to curb the post-war the post-war government scandals.government scandals.

His mediocre record His mediocre record as president is as president is surprisingly different surprisingly different than his outstanding than his outstanding reputation as reputation as commander of the commander of the Union forces during Union forces during the Civil War.the Civil War.

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