Ulysses S. Grant
The general who won the Civil War presided over one of the most corrupt administrations in American history — but historical reassessment has been kinder to Grant as a champion of Black civil rights during Reconstruction, which he defended more aggressively than any president between Lincoln and LBJ.
Pantheon Standing
| List Name | Rank | Combined |
|---|---|---|
| Greatest U.S. Presidents of All Time | #1 | 96.0 |
The Age Divide
Voters under 30 and over 35 rank Ulysses S. Grant significantly differently across lists.
The Cultural Record
Discography
No entries on record.
Awards & Recognition
No Grammy data on record.
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18th President
Civil War commanding general
Reconstruction
fought KKK (Ku Klux Klan Act)
15th Amendment ratification
Credit Mobilier scandal
Whiskey Ring
transcontinental railroad completion
died of throat cancer completing memoirs 4 days before death
rehabilitated by historians
The Case For Ulysses S. Grant
“The longevity argument alone puts them in a category of one. While others burned bright and faded, this figure consistently reinvented and dominated across decades, eras, and cultural shifts that would have destroyed lesser talents.”
“Technically unmatched. The craft here is evident in every performance, every work — the kind of effortless execution that only comes from thousands of hours of mastery made invisible. They make the impossible look inevitable.”
“Commercial success should never be held against artistic legacy. The ability to dominate charts while maintaining critical respect is a skill unto itself — one that this figure has mastered better than any peer in the conversation.”
Rank History
Ranking history will be available once voting opens for Ulysses S. Grant.
Often Compared To
Warren G. Harding
#2President / Republican — Blooming Grove, Ohio · 1921–1923
The most corrupt administration before modern times — Teapot Dome, the Veterans Bureau scandal, and a series of Cabinet appointees who stole everything not nailed down. Harding was personally popular but intellectually limited, and he knew it. 'I am not fit for this office,' he reportedly said.
William Howard Taft
#3President / Republican — Cincinnati, Ohio · 1909–1913
The only person to serve as both President and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court — and by most accounts, he preferred the Court. Taft actually busted more trusts than TR but got less credit for it, and his split with Roosevelt led to Wilson's election.