Who is America's most under-rated President? John Adams? Grover Cleveland? Jimmy Carter?
There could be several former Presidents who would fit the moniker of "most under-rated." However, I'd like to nominate Ulysses S. Grant.
Certainly Grant has been highly esteemed as the general who saved the Union Army, thus securing victory for the U.S. nation over the Confederacy.
But what of Grant as President? A quick review this morning of his record prompts a re-assessment. For instance, his insistence that African-Americans be guaranteed the right to serve on juries is in and of itself an important and amazing achievement. And there are others.
For instance, Grant supported the Fifteenth Amendment which guaranteed blacks the right to vote, as well as the Civil Rights Act of 1875.
Additionally, he established Yellow Stone as the country's first National Park, and presided over the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad.
The accomplishments of such a one as Ronald Reagan, for instance, pale in comparison to President Grant's. Thus it seems completely right that U. S. Grant remain immortalized on the fifty-dollar bill.
True, Grant made mistakes in not over-seeing certain associates and some became embroiled in scandal.
But if Grant misses the mark in terms of the very greatest Presidents, he surely ranks highly in regards to the very important Reconstruction era. For this we can be inestimably grateful to him.
There could be several former Presidents who would fit the moniker of "most under-rated." However, I'd like to nominate Ulysses S. Grant.
Certainly Grant has been highly esteemed as the general who saved the Union Army, thus securing victory for the U.S. nation over the Confederacy.But what of Grant as President? A quick review this morning of his record prompts a re-assessment. For instance, his insistence that African-Americans be guaranteed the right to serve on juries is in and of itself an important and amazing achievement. And there are others.
For instance, Grant supported the Fifteenth Amendment which guaranteed blacks the right to vote, as well as the Civil Rights Act of 1875.
Additionally, he established Yellow Stone as the country's first National Park, and presided over the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad.
The accomplishments of such a one as Ronald Reagan, for instance, pale in comparison to President Grant's. Thus it seems completely right that U. S. Grant remain immortalized on the fifty-dollar bill.
True, Grant made mistakes in not over-seeing certain associates and some became embroiled in scandal.
But if Grant misses the mark in terms of the very greatest Presidents, he surely ranks highly in regards to the very important Reconstruction era. For this we can be inestimably grateful to him.
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