Ulysses S. Grant presidential administration scandals
| Ulysses S. Grant | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 18th President of the United States | |
|
In office March 4, 1869 – March 4, 1877 |
|
| Vice President |
Schuyler Colfax (1869–1873) Henry Wilson (1873–1875) None (1875–1877) |
| Preceded by | Andrew Johnson |
| Succeeded by | Rutherford B. Hayes |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Hiram Ulysses Grant April 27, 1821 Point Pleasant, Ohio |
| Died | July 23, 1885 (aged 63) Mount McGregor, New York |
| Nationality | United States |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Julia Dent Grant |
| Children | Jesse Grant, Ulysses S. Grant, Jr., Nellie Grant, Frederick Grant |
| Alma mater | United States Military Academy at West Point |
| Occupation | General-in-Chief |
| Signature |  |
| Military service | |
| Nickname(s) | "Unconditional Surrender" Grant |
| Allegiance |
United States of America Union |
| Service/branch | |
| Years of service | 1839–1854, 1861–1869 |
| Rank |
.svg){kind=small} General of the Army of the United States
|
| Commands |
21st Illinois Infantry Regiment Army of the Tennessee Military Division of the Mississippi Armies of the United States United States Army |
An examination of the Presidency of Ulysses S. Grant reveals many scandals and fraudulent activities associated with his administration, and a cabinet that was in continual transition, divided by the forces of political corruption and reform. President Grant, ever trusting of associates, himself was influenced by both forces. The standards in many of Grant's appointments were low, and charges of corruption were widespread. Starting with the Black Friday (1869) gold speculation ring, corruption would be discovered during Grant's two presidential terms in seven federal departments, including the Navy, Justice, War, Treasury, Interior, State, and the Post Office. Reform movements initiated in both the Democratic Party and the Liberal Republicans, a faction that split from Republican Party to oppose political patronage and corruption in the Grant Administration. Nepotism was prevalent, with over 40 family members benefitting from government appointments and employment. The prevalent corruption in the Grant Administration was eventually called Grantism. Certain historians believe that charges of corruption were exaggerated by reformers, since Grant was the first president to initiate civil service reform, and several of Grant's cabinet members made solid advances towards ending abuses that occurred in previous administrations.
The unprecedented way that Grant ran his cabinet, in a military style rather than civilian, contributed to the scandals. For example, in 1869, Grant's private secretary Orville E. Babcock, rather than a State Department official, was sent to negotiate a treaty annexation with Santo Domingo. Grant never even consulted with cabinet members on the treaty annexation; in effect, the annexation proposal was already decided. A perplexed Secretary of Interior Jacob D. Cox reflected the cabinet's disappointment over not being consulted: "But Mr. President, has it been settled, then, that we want to Annex Santo Domingo?"
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