Comments on: Was Grant a Drunk? http://cwmemory.com/2009/06/27/was-grant-a-drunk/ Reflections of a High School History Teacher & Civil War Historian Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:20:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Naim Peress http://cwmemory.com/2009/06/27/was-grant-a-drunk/#comment-9794 Naim Peress Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:10:49 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=4048#comment-9794 I think Grant was what we call today a binge drinker. From the primary sources, his alcoholic excesses occured when he suffered boredom or other stresses, like during the siege of Vicksburg. I think Grant was what we call today a binge drinker. From the primary sources, his alcoholic excesses occured when he suffered boredom or other stresses, like during the siege of Vicksburg.

]]> By: Kevin Levin http://cwmemory.com/2009/06/27/was-grant-a-drunk/#comment-9759 Kevin Levin Sat, 27 Jun 2009 23:54:12 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=4048#comment-9759 You could contact Brooks Simpson or wait to see if he comments on this post. You might even want to contact Joan Waugh who lives in California and teaches at UCLA. It will be interesting to see how this little investigation of yours unfolds. Good luck. You could contact Brooks Simpson or wait to see if he comments on this post. You might even want to contact Joan Waugh who lives in California and teaches at UCLA. It will be interesting to see how this little investigation of yours unfolds. Good luck.

]]> By: David Woodbury http://cwmemory.com/2009/06/27/was-grant-a-drunk/#comment-9758 David Woodbury Sat, 27 Jun 2009 23:43:48 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=4048#comment-9758 Bob, I said tail end of his 2nd term because the marker said 1877 and "President Grant." I assumed that must mean the very beginning of 1877, as it didn't immediately dawn on me that -- naturally -- he would be called "President Grant" after he left office as well. I'm really intrigued by this now, and have posted a blog entry on the historical marker, along with a beautiful image of the Sarah Willis estate Grant is alleged to have visited. Please drop by to continue the conversation there. Meanwhile, I am emailing a couple local historians to see if they have anything more than the plaque itself to go on: http://tinyurl.com/kr6l84 Bob, I said tail end of his 2nd term because the marker said 1877 and “President Grant.” I assumed that must mean the very beginning of 1877, as it didn’t immediately dawn on me that — naturally — he would be called “President Grant” after he left office as well.

I’m really intrigued by this now, and have posted a blog entry on the historical marker, along with a beautiful image of the Sarah Willis estate Grant is alleged to have visited. Please drop by to continue the conversation there. Meanwhile, I am emailing a couple local historians to see if they have anything more than the plaque itself to go on: http://tinyurl.com/kr6l84

]]> By: Kevin Levin http://cwmemory.com/2009/06/27/was-grant-a-drunk/#comment-9757 Kevin Levin Sat, 27 Jun 2009 21:54:05 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=4048#comment-9757 Sorry about that, Bob. I just got up from a nap. :) Sorry about that, Bob. I just got up from a nap. :)

]]> By: Bob Pollock http://cwmemory.com/2009/06/27/was-grant-a-drunk/#comment-9756 Bob Pollock Sat, 27 Jun 2009 21:52:21 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=4048#comment-9756 Kevin, David indicated "the tail end of his 2nd term.' I suppose that could be 1876, but we are not aware of a trip in 1876 either. We are looking into it. I googled Sarah Wallis and there is a California State Historic marker on her house in Palo Alto that indicates Grant was a guest . We would like to know the source for this. Kevin,
David indicated “the tail end of his 2nd term.’ I suppose that could be 1876, but we are not aware of a trip in 1876 either. We are looking into it. I googled Sarah Wallis and there is a California State Historic marker on her house in Palo Alto that indicates Grant was a guest . We would like to know the source for this.

]]> By: Kevin Levin http://cwmemory.com/2009/06/27/was-grant-a-drunk/#comment-9755 Kevin Levin Sat, 27 Jun 2009 21:43:07 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=4048#comment-9755 Bob, Glad to hear it, but I don't think I ever suggested that he did take such a trip. He left on May 17 so it doesn't leave much time for a trip to California. Bob,

Glad to hear it, but I don’t think I ever suggested that he did take such a trip. He left on May 17 so it doesn’t leave much time for a trip to California.

]]> By: Bob Pollock http://cwmemory.com/2009/06/27/was-grant-a-drunk/#comment-9754 Bob Pollock Sat, 27 Jun 2009 21:38:26 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=4048#comment-9754 David, Your question has sparked interest among the park rangers here at Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site. We are not aware of a trip by Grant to California in 1877 and it seems unlikely. He left office in March, and boarded a steamship at Philadelphia in May to go on his around the world trip. It seems more likely that if he met Sarah Wallis it would have been in 1879 when he and Julia conclude their travels by arriving in San Francisco. We are going to look into this some more. David,

Your question has sparked interest among the park rangers here at Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site. We are not aware of a trip by Grant to California in 1877 and it seems unlikely. He left office in March, and boarded a steamship at Philadelphia in May to go on his around the world trip. It seems more likely that if he met Sarah Wallis it would have been in 1879 when he and Julia conclude their travels by arriving in San Francisco. We are going to look into this some more.

]]> By: Kevin Levin http://cwmemory.com/2009/06/27/was-grant-a-drunk/#comment-9753 Kevin Levin Sat, 27 Jun 2009 20:14:37 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=4048#comment-9753 David, Unfortunately, the page proofs do not come with an index so it's impossible to give you a quick response. I will let you know if I come across anything. David,

Unfortunately, the page proofs do not come with an index so it’s impossible to give you a quick response. I will let you know if I come across anything.

]]> By: David Woodbury http://cwmemory.com/2009/06/27/was-grant-a-drunk/#comment-9752 David Woodbury Sat, 27 Jun 2009 20:11:05 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=4048#comment-9752 Kevin, Does Waugh spend any time on women's support for Grant in 1872 (Susan B. Anthony was arrested after voting for him him that year)? I'm looking for references to President Grant's visit to the West Coast at the tail end of his 2nd term, when he apparently met with California suffragette Sarah Wallis. David Kevin,

Does Waugh spend any time on women’s support for Grant in 1872 (Susan B. Anthony was arrested after voting for him him that year)? I’m looking for references to President Grant’s visit to the West Coast at the tail end of his 2nd term, when he apparently met with California suffragette Sarah Wallis.

David

]]> By: Mike Kienzler http://cwmemory.com/2009/06/27/was-grant-a-drunk/#comment-9749 Mike Kienzler Sat, 27 Jun 2009 17:31:44 +0000 http://cwmemory.com/?p=4048#comment-9749 A T-shirt sold by Prairie Archives, a (very good) antiquarian bookstore in Springfield, Ill., shows Grant with the legend: "I'd have to be drunk to live in Springfield, Illinois." It's part of a series featuring Abe Lincoln ("They'd have to shoot me to get me back ..."); Mary ("I'd have to be crazy ..."); another Custer ("Visiting Springfield was the worst mistake I ever made"); etc. A T-shirt sold by Prairie Archives, a (very good) antiquarian bookstore in Springfield, Ill., shows Grant with the legend: “I’d have to be drunk to live in Springfield, Illinois.” It’s part of a series featuring Abe Lincoln (“They’d have to shoot me to get me back …”); Mary (“I’d have to be crazy …”); another Custer (“Visiting Springfield was the worst mistake I ever made”); etc.

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