Reply #24: Funny you say that [View All]

[karynnj]

A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I went to a big exhibit at the New York Historical Museum on Gant and Lee. I was very surprised to hear of the principled stands that Grant took on Native Americans and on reconstruction period. Reading some of his quotes, it was clear that he was a good principled man. I was also surprised to read that the Republican party gave up most of the principles held by Lincoln and Grant in a deal to get Rutherford Hayes selected as President after a contested election (that sounds like it made 2000 look good.

Having always heard that Grant lead a corrupt administration and had a problem with drinking, I think I need to do a lot more reading on this period. Leaving the exhibit, my husband and I questioned if the exhibit were revisionist history or if Grant was swiftboated by the establishment after he left office. (Per the exhibit, he fought the establishment at times as President.)