When Ulysses S. Grant became the 18th president of the United States of America, he was a war hero. He had not only fought in, but won, some of the bloodiest battles in United States history. When we Americans voted for him, we thought we were getting a president who was bold, brave and brash, but here are some facts about this famous president that might surprise you.
West Point
While is is commonly known that Grant graduated from West Point, it is less known that it wasn’t his idea to go. Grant didn’t really think of himself as military material. His less then spectacular performance at West Point didn’t improve his self image. Grant graduated in the middle of his graduating class. Despite his early misgivings, Grant was the only Union general who was able to convince General Lee to surrender after four of the bloodiest years in American history.
Well Done
Voters also knew that Grant was the son of a man who tanned hides for a living. They saw this as a good thing. That he was the son of a working man meant that Grant wasn’t afraid to get his hands dirty. Little did they know that Grant was secretly desperate to escape the life of tanning. You see, while he was able to provide leadership while bullets flew all around him, Grant couldn’t stand the sight of blood. His aversion to blood was so great that he insisted his meat be well cooked. The sight of a blood seeping from a steak made him physically ill.
Slow Down
One of thee things that Grant did during his presidency was to drive around Washington D.C. in his buggy. He found the sound of the horse’s hooves and the gentle creak of the buggy soothing. Apparently, he also liked the feel of the wind on his face. President Grant is the only American President to get a speeding ticket while he President. The ticket cost him $20. According to Grant, the police officer didn’t want to give him the ticket, but Grant insisted he be reprimanded for breaking the law.
