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U. S. Grant: American Hero, American Myth (Civil War America)

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Joan Waugh's thoughtful new book "U.S. Grant: American Hero, American Myth" (2009) uses this now-famous question to explore the changing nature over time of American attitudes towards Ulysses S. Grant (1822 --1885). (The answer "U.S. Grant" to the question, in fact is only half correct. Grant's wife, Julia, is buried with him.) Waugh is Professor of History at the University of California at Los Angeles and the author of several earlier books on the American Civil War.

The outlines of Grant's life remain fairly well known. Grant, of course, was the leading Union commander in the Civil War and the 18th president of the United States. Born in Ohio in humble circumstances, Grant reluctantly entered West Point at the insistence of his father. He served with distinction in the Mexican War but grew bored with the humdrum nature of Army life in peacetime. He resigned his commission in 1854, likely as a result of his problems with alcohol. He then had an undistinguished career in various civilian occupations until the outbreak of the Civil War. Grant volunteered his services at the outset and rose from an obscure commander in the Western theatre to win critical victories at Fort Donelson and Shiloh. In 1863, Grant captured the seemingly impregnable fortress of Vicksburg, dividing the Confederacy in two. Later that year, he won an impressive victory at Chattanooga. Grant became the first Lieutenant General since George Washington and ultimately defeated Robert E. Lee in a series of bruising battles in Virginia. But as a soldier, Grant may be best remembered for the generous peace terms he gave to Lee at Appomattox Court House in 1865.

Grant's two terms as president (1869 -- 1876) are generally regarded as less than distinguished. Grant attempted to implement Reconstruction but proved largely unsuccessful. His administration is remembered, somewhat unfairly, for the corruption of many of his associates. Although there has been an attempt to revise his reputation as president, Grant still routinely is listed at near the bottom, with Harding and Buchanan, in various rankings of the American presidents.

Waugh combines a rudimentary biography of Grant with a detailed study of the vicissitudes of his historical reputation. She tries to understand the reasons for Americans' changing attitudes towards Grant. Through the end of the 19th Century, Grant was commonly regarded as part of a triumvirate of great Americans that included as well George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Grant was regarded as the savior of the Union for his military victories and for the spirit of reconciliation he displayed at Appomattox. But for much of the 20th Century, Grant's military reputation has frequently been denigrated in favor of that of Lee. More unfairly, Grant's military skills have been ignored and his successes attributed to his alleged talents as a "butcher." Grant's reputation also suffered as a result of the failures of his presidency.

Waugh focuses on a Grant less familiar than the General and the President. She describes the two-year world tour that Grant took following the conclusion of his presidency when he was universally feted as the greatest living American. In a lengthy chapter, Waugh describes how Grant lost all his money upon his return to the United States (Bernie Madoff -like corruption was common in the Gilded Age.) and turned to writing to support his family. During this time, Grant was terminally ill with a painful throat cancer. In the last year of his life, Grant wrote his two-volume history of the Civil War, his "Personal Memoirs" which has become a literary classic as well as a primary source for understanding the conflict. At his death in 1885, over 1.5 million people attended Grant's funeral. Then ,12 years later, an equal number witnessed the dedication of Grant's Monument, the so-called "Grant's Tomb", in Riverside Park, New York City. The monument was paid for entirely by private subscription. Early in the 20th Century it was the most frequently visited monument in New York eclipsing even the Statue of Liberty. Subsequently if fell into disrepair and obscurity which has been corrected in part only in recent years.

In the 19th Century, Waugh argues, Americans saw Grant as the self-made man who rose from humble circumstances, overcame adversity and failure, lived simply and honorably (even if his associates did not) and found his calling as a General and as the savior of the Union. Americans remembered the Grant who tried to reunite the sections but who also had a firm belief in American unity and nationalism and in the cause for which the Union fought. With the rise of the "Lost Cause" mythology, Waugh argues, Americans tended to become critical of Grant's staunch support of Emancipation and his attempt as president to enforce African American civil rights in the South. And as the 20th Century wore on, Waugh claims, Americans became increasingly skeptical of military heroes and increasingly dubious about the nature and worth of American Nationalism. Tied inextricably to both the military and to nationalism, Grant's reputation suffered as a result.

Waugh argues that it is time for Americans to revisit and reassess Grant. She writes (p. 307) "Perhaps now is the time for a new kind of tourist to the tomb ... one more appreciative and knowledgeable. Never again will most citizens feel an uncomplicated pride in Grant's achievements, or in what America has become since Appomattox, but there should be a realization that Grant's goal of national reconciliation -- as general and as president -- included principles that are vitally important today: justice and equality for all.... No living person in the postwar era symbolized both the hopes and the lost dreams of the war more than Grant."

Grant is too all-too-human in his failings to be regarded as an "American Myth". But he richly deserves to be remembered as an "American hero."

Robin Friedman

While this book covers how such a popular general and President lost his popularity through the years of time I fear that many people know neither that he was a General nor even the President of the United States. This book is not so much a study of his life, his military career or his presidency, it does cover his great accomplishments and how they have been lost to the revision of history. A scholar of the American Civil War or of U.S. Grant I am not, but have read many books on both subjects & I'd recommend this book to anyone. I do admit it concerns me that I'm the first to write a review on this book almost a month after it's publication almost as much as I can find it no where in my large chain local bookstore where vampire love stories and books about what cats think about all day abound.

Here is a nice re-telling of the life and afterlife of U.S. Grant, with a special emphasis on his uncertain and changing place in the historical memory of Americans. To me there is no doubt that he deserves to have a continuing and honored place in our nation's vibrant history.

I think the book's author, Professor Joan Waugh, gets it right most of the time, especially on the fact that General Grant fought to both save the Union and end slavery. Influential "Lost Cause" historians favor the South's Lee, when we (and they) should be giving thanks it was Grant that won, given his side's cause was the morally and politically just one.

I do question why Professor Waugh skips over the still current importance of the Grant monument designed by Shrady located near the base of the U.S. Capitol. It joins with the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument as one of the three highly significant memorials to individuals on the nation's Mall and, I think, is one of the finest outdoor historical statues in America. While Grant's Tomb in New York City should be, and is, a focal point of this book, it was a mistake by the author to almost ignore the story of Washington, D.C.'s homage to this great man.

Also, readers interested in President Grant's trip around the world after his term of office ended should consider obtaining the very nicely edited version by Michael Fellman (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2002) of John Russell Young's original tale.

I am really afraid that most Americans especially young Americans maybe hard pressed to tell you anything about Grant including being President. Here is a well done, wonderfully written work about the man to fill that gap. The author Joan Waugh is a college professor and widely held Civil War authority but don't run away she has written the book that flows easily like a novel as opposed to a history book. Professor Waugh gives us insight into a man that was so popular in the United States and now sits barely known. Try this book. I am glad to be reading nonfiction again and this was a great choice. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

I enjoyed this fresh look at the history and legacy of U.S. Grant. I had accepted the popular view that Grant was a drunkard as General in charge of the Union Army, and a corrupt politician as President. Ms. Waugh completely revised my view. According to her he was a brilliant General who was able to destroy the Confederate Army under Robert E. Lee, and a politician who sought to unite the two sections of the country without foresaking the recently freed blacks. Unfortunately his underlings were not always as honest as he was, thus his reputation for overseeing a corrupt administration. Well into the first two decades of the 20th century he was revered by Americans, and frequently mentioned along with Washington and Lincoln. I would recommend this book for anyone interested in a fresh look at Grant and his role as commander of the Union Army, and as the 18th President of the United States.

I love General Grant and have read a lot of biographies about him. I have always wondered why people I know (who aren't as familiar with Gen Grant as I) hold him in contempt. Ms. Waugh tells us in the intro that she will answer that question. She does not.

She tells us far too much about the building of the Grant Memorial: should it be in NYC or Washington, how much should it cost, what should it look like. But she never answers the question she poses at the beginning of the book. What happened to General Grant's reputation?

At his death, Gen Grant was the most beloved president ever. People North and South (mostly North) mourned him like they would a family member. Yet 50 years after his death, he was remembered as a drunken, corrupt, murderer.

She says several times that Southern historians pushed the "Glorious Cause Myth" on the public's imagination. I understand why that theme would work in the South. But why did it work in the North? The generation who turned on General Grant is the Generation who's grandfathers fought in that war and (on the North) loved Grant, and who presumably heard good things about him. Even the Southern soldiers respected him. How did a regional excuse for losing a war spread so far and so deeply?

No matter how well written, and Ms. Waugh writes very well, this book fails on its own terms. Don't bother unless you are interested in charitable fundraising in the 19th century.

This book is more about memory than it is about Grant himself. Ronald Reagen, it might be said, is an example of a President whose stock has gone up since he died -- the collapse of communism confirmed a key view of his presidency, and the publication of his letters revealed a thoughtful and articulate human side. Joan Waugh's book on Grant reveals a President whose reputation collapsed after his death. This would have been very hard to predict. The writing of his memoirs as he lay dying created a best-seller and induced sympathetic feelings. The Union general who won the war by risking the lives of his troop was mourned at his funeral by veterans from the Confederacy. His personal weaknesses were well-known and were forgiven. Memorials were built in the form of his tomb in New York and his monument on in Washington, D.C. More than anything, it seems, his reputation was overshadowed by the myth of the South as a lost cause and by the apotheosis of Robert E. Lee as a kind of saint. Will the record correct itself? This excellent book may help, but I wouldn't bet the ranch on it. The best-known movie portraying the Civil War remains Gone with the Wind. Subsequent events have made us harsher on corruption in presidential administrations. Grant's incomplete efforts at Reconstruction probably will be remembered not for their good intentions but for their missed opportunities. One point to remember: as we read Douglas Brinkley's very complete portrayal of Teddy Roosevelt as an environmentalist, let's not forget that it was U.S. Grant in 1872 who created the first national park -- Yellowstone.

I absolutely love the Grant biography. The book caused me to visit Grant's tomb recently - a European quietly paying homage to a fine man and a great writer. I purchased it on impulse after reading the introduction. I am currently reading it for a second time. The authors writing style is remarkable; it reminds me of another one of my favorite writers namely Alison Weir. I wholeheartedly recommend this book for any student of history, any lover of research and any person who aspires to inspire an interest in learning. Background - I will confess to being European with only limited knowledge of American history. Ms. Waugh brings color to Grant; she brings depth; she makes me feel grateful that such men existed. She makes me feel like I know the man like a neighbor. She makes me feel optimistic that men of the stature of Grant despite some flaws emerge from obscurity to save a nation. It is a truly great book.

The general consensus today of Ulysses S. Grant is that he was a great general but a mediocre president. Yet, at the time of his death, he was considered an American hero and the most popular man in America. What happened between then and now? UCLA history professor, Joan Waugh, sets out to explore the answer to this question in U.S. Grant: American Hero, American Myth.

Waugh divides her book into two halves. The first half is an abbreviated biography. She covers everything from his humble beginnings to his post-presidential years, but she doesn't spend much time on any one period of his life. I was most interested in his presidential years. Grant was surrounded by corrupt friends and sometimes showed poor judgment. Yet, he also accomplished good thing during his two terms in office. He was a man who grew into the job. He believed in fiscal responsibility including paying down the war debt and cutting expenses. He sponsored Native American reform and established the first National Park, Yellowstone. He encouraged the expansion of the Western Territories and the building of railroads and canals. He also worked toward rebuilding the South while fighting for rights for blacks. Perhaps his biggest failure was Reconstruction, and he later admitted that he should have kept a military presence in the former Confederate states for 10 years after the Civil War. But it has been suggested that perhaps no president could have succeeded during this difficult time in our history.

The second of half of this book deals with Grant's legacy, and includes his final illness, the writing of his memoirs, his death, funeral and the building of the General Grant Memorial Monument. When he died, Grant was considered to be one of America's greatest leaders, behind only Washington and Lincoln. His funeral was a unifying occasion for North and South in a great outpouring of grief. Confederate Generals Joe Johnston and Simon Buckner were pallbearers. Robert E. Lee's nephew, Confederate General Fitzhugh Lee, was an honored guest. Black and white Union and Confederate veterans marched in his funeral procession, including the famous Stonewall Brigade. At the time of his death, Grant was not just a successful soldier, but also a symbol of unity and reconciliation, a statesman, a peacemaker, and a historian. Unfortunately, Grant's stature took a fall with the dying off of Civil War veterans and the revising of Civil War history that promoted Robert E. Lee to near-sainthood and revered the romanticism of the Confederate Lost Cause. Nowhere was this change more evident than in the way his resting place was allowed to become a national disgrace--which Waugh recounts in great detail.

Although U.S. Grant: American Hero, American Myth is not a comprehensive biography, it will hopefully encourage Americans to reevaluate Grant's greatness and his contributions to our country. And I can think of no better time for this to take place than on the eve of the sesquicentennial of the Civil War. Also, while I enjoyed this book, I have to admit that I found a number of typos and errors distracting.

U.S. Grant is routinely seen today as a disastrous president and only a competent, at best, general. Yet in the 19th and early 20th century, U.S. Grant was third in line of greatness, following only Washington and Lincoln. Joan Waugh's superb biography is not aimed so much at telling Grant's story, though she does that, too. Instead, she explores how Grant went from being an international hero to a negative stereotype, mainly as the result of a concerted effort to redefine the Civil War in pro-Southern terms of "states rights" and downplay the role of slavery, civil rights, and the rights of free workers.

Waugh is working against some powerful modern myths. "Gone With the Wind" features happy slaves, debonair aristocrats, and gentle people of refinement thrown into the brutality of war by those evil Union scum. The book, the movie, and popular culture all latched on to the notion of an ideal world made brutal through the "war of Northern aggression." One major target of this re-imagining of the Civil War was U.S. Grant. The general that conquered the South had to be diminished and demonized, and Waugh shows, in splendid fashion, how this process unfolded. Robert E. Lee, who lost all battles fought outside of his native Virginia, was lionized as the perfect general; Grant, who won in every theater of the war, was cast as a drunken bumbler that was lucky to have numbers on his side.

Very readable yet scholarly, "U.S. Grant: American Hero, American Myth" is exactly what the title suggests: an examination of a major American figure in life, death and myth. Highly recommended.