Ulysses S. Grant (1869-1877)

"I have made it a rule of my life to trust a man long after other people gave him up, but I don't see how I can ever trust any human being again."

Some nicknames of Ulysses Grant include "Unconditional Surrender," "Uncle Sam," and "American Caesar." These are all fine and good for General Grant.

However, for President Grant, I prefer the nickname of "Useless S. Grant."

In his first term, his failure to act one way or another on the issue of greenbacks caused economic panic, beginning on Black Friday of 1869. Greenbacks had been issued by the Union during the Civil War as money with no gold backing, and so their value fluctuated from almost a full dollar to about half a dollar, and generally caused inflation and wasn't useful in transactions. If Grant had acted sooner, perhaps this economic trouble could have been avoided.

(At this point, I can't help but think of James Buchanan and his inability to do anything one way or the other about sucession and other pre-Civil War issues. Especially since Grant said he had voted for Buchanan.)

Also in his first term, the Credit Mobilier scandal occurred and was revealed to the public. Basically a company granted government money to itself and swindled money from the government further by sending invoices of about double their actual spending amounts. When it was discovered, stock in this company was used to bribe members of the federal government.

Normally, scandal and economic downturns prevent a president from being reelected. But not Grant. Somehow the public puts him into office without much challenge again.

The second term is not unlike the first. There is the Panic of 1873, not long after he starts the term. In addition, there are more scandals involving more cabinet members and the vice president, notably the Sanborn Contracts.

So basically, we've had two terms of Grant. Two periods of economic trouble. Multiple scandals.

And this man is still favored by the Republicans to run again. Grant was the favorite in 1880 until James G. Blaine threw his support behind James A. Garfield.

I just fail to comprehend how any man, even a successful general, could be so politically prosperous for as long as Grant with so much crap occurring while he's the big cheese of America.